Jake Paul has confirmed he will boldly fight Anthony Joshua on December 19th in Miami.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul will share the ring with former two-time unified world champion Joshua in an eight-round sanctioned bout using 10-ounce gloves at heavyweight at Caseya Center in Florida. The match will take place in the early hours of Saturday 20th December UK time.
Paul was scheduled to face Gervonta Davis, but the bout was canceled due to a civil lawsuit being filed against the lightweight boxing champion, with Joshua stepping in as a likely replacement.
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will be in an unexpected matchup
“This is not an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day,” Paul declared.
“A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime. When I defeated Anthony Joshua, all doubts disappeared and no one could deny me the opportunity to fight for the world title.
“To all those who hate me, this is what you wanted. I’m sorry, British people. On Friday 19th December, under the lights of Miami, broadcast live to the world only on Netflix, the torch will be passed and Britain’s Goliath will be laid to rest.”
This will be Joshua’s first boxing appearance since losing by knockout to then-IBF champion Daniel Dubois. “Jake or anyone can get this job. There’s no mercy,” Joshua said.
“I’ve taken some time off and I’m coming back with a mega show. This is a big opportunity for me. Like it or not, I’m here to stay calm, cool and collected, do huge numbers, fight big fights and break all the records.
“Mark my words. You’ll see more fighters take advantage of this opportunity in the future. I’m about to break the internet with my Jake Paul face.”
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Nakisa Bidalian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, which represents Jake Paul, believes the fighter’s “delusional confidence” could work to his advantage.
Paul fought at heavyweight last November, coming out of retirement to score a points victory over Mike Tyson in a high-profile showdown.
The 28-year-old, who has a record of 12-1, comes into the fight against Joshua after scoring the best win of his career with a unanimous decision win over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June.
Joshua, who hasn’t fought since losing by knockout to Daniel Dubois last September, is a two-time world heavyweight champion during an illustrious 28-4 professional career.
Joshua will be returning to the ring after suffering a KO loss to Daniel Dubois.
He won his first world title in 2016 and unified the WBO, WBA and IBF belts in an epic battle with Wladimir Klitschko the following year. Joshua regained the belt from American Andy Ruiz in 2019 when the latter pulled off an upset, and his championship reign ended with now undisputed heavyweight titlist Oleksandr Usyk.
“Everyone laughed when Jake Paul said in March that he wanted to fight AJ in 2026,” said Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bidalyan.
“Plans changed and in less than two weeks, MVP and Netflix delivered one of the biggest fights of all time. Now, as only Jake Paul could and would like to do, he’s fighting one of the most feared boxers in the world.
“Joshua has every advantage in this fight except for one thing – Jake Paul’s delusional confidence, and if there’s anyone who can shock the world, it’s him.
“This is a global showdown between two of the sport’s most famous figures: Jake, the face of a new era in boxing, and Joshua, the king of British boxing.”
“They say be careful what you wish for, but I feel like that’s all I have to say,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
“Two of the biggest names in sports will go head-to-head on December 19th. I admire Jake for being an asshole, but he’s going to have a tough fight in Miami.”
