Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight is CONFIRMED: £140m showdown will be live on Netflix as former heavyweight world champion takes on YouTube bad-boy
Anthony Joshua’s headline-making heavyweight bout with Jake Paul has been confirmed to take place in Miami next month.
Daily Mail Sport understands the fight, to be held at the Kaseya Center on December 19, will see a prize worth £140 million split equally between the two-time heavyweight world champion and the 28-year-old YouTuber.
The eight-round bout, which will be fought in three-minute rounds and with 10-ounce gloves, will be Joshua’s first fight since he was crushed by Daniel Dubois 14 months ago.
There will also need to be some serious adjustments to the boxers’ weights and the limit will be set at 245 lbs. Joshua has weighed over 250lbs in each of his last five fights, while Paul only weighed around 200lbs in his last fight in June.
‘Jake or anyone else could take the job. There is no mercy,” Joshua said in a statement.
‘I took some time off and I’m coming back with a mega show. This is a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do great things, have great fights and break all the records while remaining calm, composed and cool. Pay attention to what I say and you will see many more fighters taking advantage of these opportunities in the future. ‘I’m about to shut down the internet in Jake Paul’s face.’
Headline for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight fight with Jake Paul confirmed
Next month’s fight will be Joshua’s first since being crushed by Daniel Dubois last year.
Paul controversially beat Mike Tyson last year and has only lost one since he started boxing
Meanwhile, ‘Problem Child’ Paul, who has a record of 12 wins and one loss since he started boxing, has promised that ‘England’s Goliath’ will be put to sleep.
‘This is not an artificial intelligence simulation, this is doomsday,’ he said.
‘A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime. When I beat Anthony Joshua, all my doubts disappear and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for the world title.
‘I’m telling all my haters, this is what you wanted. I apologize to the people of the United Kingdom. ‘On Friday 19 December, under the lights in Miami, broadcast live worldwide exclusively on Netflix, the torch will be passed and Britain’s Goliath will be put to sleep.’
Paul controversially defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November and most recently beat former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr by unanimous decision in June. His only loss came to Tommy Fury in March 2024.
The YouTuber, a former boxer, was originally scheduled to face Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis at the same venue on November 14, but the event was canceled following Davis’ arrest.
The world lightweight champion was charged with battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The allegations resulted in the cancellation of the planned 195lb exhibition, prompting Paul to seek a new opponent for the rearranged December date.
After his fight against Joshua was confirmed, promoter Eddie Hearn said: ‘They say be careful what you wish for, I feel like that’s all I have to say.
‘Two of the biggest names in sports will face each other on December 19. While I admire Jake’s whore, he’ll learn that the hard way in Miami.’
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, added: ‘Everyone laughed when Jake Paul said in March he wanted to fight AJ in 2026.
‘Plans changed and in less than two weeks MVP and Netflix had one of the biggest fights of all time. Now he fights one of the scariest boxers in the world, as only Jake Paul can and will do.
Joshua has every advantage in this fight, except for one thing: Jake Paul’s deceptive confidence, and if anyone can shock the world, it’s him. ‘This is a global clash between two of the sport’s most recognizable figures: Jake, the face of boxing’s new era, and Joshua, the king of UK boxing.’
Eddie Hearn claimed Joshua wanted to make an arrangement but the lucrative offer on the table for a fight with Paul convinced him to prioritize those negotiations
The fight with Paul (pictured alongside brother Logan) will be a full professional contest and will air on Netflix; DAZN will pay large amounts of compensation to allow Joshua to compete on a rival platform.
Hearn has previously stated that he wants to make an adjustment to Joshua following his loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley. He said AJ had lined up a top 100 opponent but was swayed by the lucrative offer on the table to fight Paul.
The promoter also outlined a longer-term plan for Joshua to fight one or two more matches before a potential clash with Tyson Fury in 2026 – an event Turki Alalshikh has publicly expressed interest in pursuing.
Joshua has already agreed to the terms of the fight but it remains unclear whether Fury, who has now claimed to be retired, will do the same.
Alalshikh, DAZN’s Chris Eubank Jr. He hinted that progress was being made when he broadcast the rematch between Conor Benn and Conor Benn.
Hearn confirmed Joshua’s bout with Paul will not be an exhibition but a full professional contest at heavyweight under Queensberry rules.
It was also confirmed that the bout will be broadcast on Netflix, despite Joshua’s long-standing exclusive deal with DAZN.
According to reports, large compensation was paid to DAZN so Joshua could compete on a rival platform.
A press conference for the fight between Paul and AJ will be held in Miami on Friday afternoon.
