Boluwatife Kehinde
Miami will host a major crossover boxing event next month as YouTube personality-turned-fighter Jake Paul takes on former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.
The eight-round bout, announced Monday by Matchroom Boxing, will stream live on Netflix and feature both men wearing 10-ounce gloves at the Kaseya Center in Florida on December 19.
Paul, 28, enters the ring riding the momentum of his November 2024 victory over legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson in Texas. He also secured a unanimous-decision win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June and was originally scheduled to fight Gervonta Davis this month before the match was cancelled due to a civil lawsuit against the WBA lightweight champion.
“This isn’t AI—this is my reckoning,” Paul said. “I’m stepping into a real heavyweight contest against a top-tier champion. When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt vanishes, and no one can deny me a shot at the world title. For everyone who wanted this—here it is. On December 19 in Miami, the torch gets passed, and Britain’s giant goes down.”
Joshua, 36, sees the matchup as a significant opportunity despite not having fought since his stoppage loss to fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in their IBF title clash at Wembley last September.
“Like it or not, I’m here to put up huge numbers, take on massive fights, and break records while staying calm and composed,” Joshua said. “Believe me, more fighters will start taking chances like this. I’m about to break the internet—with Jake Paul’s face.”
