Anthony Joshua v Jake Paul confirmed in professional fight on December 19 in Miami - 'This is what you wanted'
Updated 17/11/2025 at 13:54 GMT
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional fight on December 19 in Miami. The contest will see Joshua and Paul fight for eight, three-minute rounds. It will be Joshua’s first fight since losing to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. "This isn't an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day," Paul told Netflix.
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Anthony Joshua will fight Jake Paul in a professional fight on December 19 in Miami.
Joshua, a two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, will take to the ring for the first time since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
The bout is scheduled for eight, three-minute rounds; Joshua and Paul will wear standard 10-ounce gloves.
"This isn't an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day," Paul told Netflix.
"A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime. When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title.
"To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain's Goliath gets put to sleep."
Paul has been defeated just once since making his boxing debut in 2020. That came against Tommy Fury via split decision, and he has since gone on to defeat the likes of Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Mike Perry.
The influencer-turned-fighter has previously called for "tougher fighters," name-dropping Joshua and Gervonta Davis among them.
"I took some time out, and I'm coming back with a mega show. It's a big opportunity for me," Joshua said in a statement.
"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.
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"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."
Paul had originally been set to face Davis in a November exhibition, but it was cancelled due to a lawsuit being filed against the latter.
A 36-year-old Joshua represents the biggest challenge of Paul's boxing career thus far, though the Englishman has fought just once since March 2024, that being the Dubois defeat in which he was clinically stopped in the fifth round.
There had been speculation over a potential bout between Joshua and Tyson Fury, with Joshua himself encouraging the fight, but it has not yet come to fruition, with Fury remaining in retirement following his double-header defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
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