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Anthony Joshua to face Jake Paul in Miami heavyweight bout on 19 December
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will step into the ring against YouTube-turned-boxer Jake Paul at Miami's Kaseya Center on 19 December, officials confirmed Monday. The eight-round professional bout, streamed live on Netflix, marks Joshua's return since his September 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and replaces Paul's canceled exhibition against Gervonta Davis.
Fight terms and stakes
Both fighters agreed to a 245-pound weight limit-below Joshua's recent 250+ pounds-and will wear standard 10-ounce gloves. The 36-year-old Briton, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist with a 28-4 (25 KOs) record, faces Paul, 28, who boasts a 12-1 (7 KOs) slate but has logged just 70 professional rounds since 2020. By contrast, Joshua has over 160 rounds of elite experience, including bouts against Wladimir Klitschko and Oleksandr Usyk.
"This isn't an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day," Paul declared in a statement. "When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title."
Joshua's calculated return
Joshua framed the matchup as a strategic move, telling reporters, "I took some time out and I'm coming back with a mega show. It's a big opportunity for me." He dismissed criticism of the bout's novelty, adding: "Whether you like it or not, I'm here to do massive numbers, have big fights, and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm, and collected."
"Mark my words, you'll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I'm about to break the internet over Jake Paul's face."
Anthony Joshua
Industry reactions: Risk vs. reward
Promoter Frank Warren called the fight "dangerous for both," warning that a loss could end Joshua's career: "If he gets caught-he's done." Warren acknowledged Paul's ambition but noted the "huge step up" against a fighter of Joshua's caliber.
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions (Paul's promoter), revealed the bout was fast-tracked after Paul insisted on facing Joshua "now" rather than in 2026. "People laughed in March," Bidarian told Sky Sports. "But Jake stood up and made it happen."
Financial incentives
Sources close to the negotiation told the BBC Joshua could earn up to £50 million-a figure that reportedly swayed his decision. Analysts suggest the payday outweighed concerns over the bout's perceived mismatch, with Paul's 20.9 million YouTube subscribers guaranteeing massive viewership. His 2024 exhibition against Mike Tyson drew 108 million streams.
Criticism and context
Critics, including rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma, labeled the fight a "huge mismatch." Itauma told the BBC Paul's team "should be sacked" for greenlighting the contest. Others, like promoter Eddie Hearn, noted Joshua's original plan to face a lower-profile opponent in December before "the money was too good to turn down."
Paul's ascent from online personality to ranked cruiserweight (WBA #14) has polarized boxing purists. His 2024 unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and the Tyson exhibition fueled his push for legitimacy, though skeptics point to his lack of heavyweight experience. Joshua, meanwhile, faces questions about his future in top-tier boxing after back-to-back losses to Usyk (2022) and Dubois.
What's next
Joshua has hinted at a 2026 showdown with Tyson Fury, while Paul's team eyes a world title shot if he upsets the odds in Miami. The fight's undercard and broadcast details will be announced in the coming weeks, per Netflix Sports.
