Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: A Clash of Giants in the Ring
The boxing world is gearing up for a showdown that promises to be epic. Jake Paul, the media star turned boxer, will face former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. This fight, which will be broadcast on Netflix, marks a significant leap in Paul’s career.
Originally, Paul was scheduled to face Gervonta “Tank” Davis, WBA lightweight champion, in an exhibition at an agreed weight. However, this match was canceled due to a lawsuit against Davis by his ex-partner.
Now, Paul will face Joshua, an opponent who outweighs Davis by more than 45 kilos. Unlike the exhibition with Davis, Paul will not have a size advantage to compensate for the difference in skill. Joshua, known for his experience, has fought at around 113 kilos, while Paul competes at the cruiserweight limit of 90 kilos. A victory for Paul would be one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Why This Fight?
Following the cancellation of his fight with Davis, Paul actively sought a new opponent before the end of 2025. According to Most Valuable Promotions, Paul’s promotional company, several potential opponents were considered before finalizing the agreement with Joshua.
At the beginning of the year, Paul had expressed interest in fighting Joshua, including him in a revised wish list. The original plan was for them to face each other in 2026, after the fight with Davis. But, Paul quickly shifted his focus towards Joshua, who was recovering from elbow surgery in June, and both parties reached an agreement.
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing promoter, had mentioned that Joshua had plans to fight once at the end of 2025 before focusing on a fight with Tyson Fury in 2026.
Is it an Exhibition Fight?
No. The fight between Paul and Joshua will be a sanctioned heavyweight fight, scheduled for eight three-minute rounds each. The pugilists will use 10-ounce gloves, standard in heavyweight fights.
Paul is closer to Joshua’s weight, but will have to deal with a size and skill difference. Joshua, a former Olympic gold medalist and two-time unified heavyweight champion, has weighed up to 115 kilos in his professional career. Paul’s highest weight was 103 kilos in his November 2024 exhibition against Mike Tyson. In his most recent fight, against Julio César Chávez Jr. in June, Paul weighed 90.5 kilos.
Why Does Paul Want to Face Joshua Now?
Audacity with a touch of illusory confidence? Perhaps.
Regardless of what is said about Paul, he has shown his desire to test himself, despite being considered a novice in boxing. His career has included fights against MMA fighters, YouTubers, a former NBA dunk champion, low-level boxers, and a retired heavyweight. In his last fight, Paul faced Chávez, a former middleweight champion, and dominated him. Chávez is in the final stage of his career.
The last time Joshua faced a boxing novice, he defeated Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion, in two rounds in March 2024.
Even so, Paul wants to prove himself, and we will see what he is capable of when he faces Joshua.
Why Does Joshua Accept the Fight?
Why not? It’s a low-risk, high-reward fight on a massive stage that will be broadcast globally on Netflix. Joshua has faced some of the best heavyweights of his generation and was looking to compete before the end of 2025. Furthermore, this fight will boost his image in the United States, where he hasn’t fought since his knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden in 2019.
The only market Joshua hasn’t conquered is the American one, and facing someone with Paul’s reach will undoubtedly help in case he faces Fury in 2026.
How Will This Affect Joshua’s Career?
If Joshua meets expectations and defeats Paul, his plans for a mega-fight with Fury will remain in place. Fury is retired, but could be tempted to return for a fight with Joshua.
It is unlikely that Joshua will be interested in prolonging the fight so that Paul offers an entertaining match. However, for each round that Paul survives, Joshua’s reputation could be affected. And if the fight is competitive, there will be doubts about Joshua’s current situation in boxing. A competitive fight with a less experienced and smaller Paul would not be favorable for his future.
How Will This Affect Paul’s Career?
The expectation is that a decorated heavyweight with great punching power will defeat Paul categorically, so the chances of a surprise are against Paul. Paul is expected to lose this fight, and therefore, the simple fact of getting into the ring and holding on could be a moral victory for him, as long as he is not brutally knocked out at the beginning of the fight.
If Paul somehow manages to make the fight competitive, that will only help improve his image in boxing. He has already shown that a defeat will not completely derail his career, and his huge social media presence will allow him to recover and return, if not more marketable, having gained the respect of a boxing community that has criticized his career in boxing.
It’s almost a no-lose situation for Paul, as he should never have had the opportunity to step into the ring with a former heavyweight champion at this stage of his career. Any time he spends on his feet will be a victory. However, if he ends up on the wrong side of a spectacular knockout, he’ll go viral for the wrong reasons.
