The highly anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul has officially been confirmed for December 19, ending months of speculation surrounding the matchup.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul will step into the ring with the former two-time unified heavyweight champion in an eight-round sanctioned bout at heavyweight. The fight, set to take place at the Kaseya Center in Florida, will feature 10oz gloves and stream globally on Netflix.
Paul had originally been scheduled to face lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, but the bout was cancelled after a civil lawsuit was filed against Davis. Anthony Joshua has now stepped in as a high-profile replacement, setting the stage for one of the most talked-about events of the year.
“This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day,” Paul proclaimed.
“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… the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”
Anthony Joshua, who returns to the ring for the first time since suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, delivered a fiery response:
“Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy.
I took some time out, and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights, and break every record while keeping cool and collected.“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 previously fought at heavyweight in November last year, defeating Mike Tyson—who briefly came out of retirement—by points in a headline-grabbing bout.
Anthony Joshua, meanwhile, boasts an impressive professional record featuring 28 wins and four losses. He became world heavyweight champion in 2016 and unified the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles after a legendary victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. Though he later reclaimed his belts from Andy Ruiz after a stunning upset, his reign ultimately ended at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, now the undisputed heavyweight champion.
The upcoming fight promises blockbuster attention as one of boxing’s biggest names faces one of the sport’s most controversial newcomers in a high-stakes heavyweight spectacle.
