Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua Set To Face Off In Marquee Boxing Match
Just when you thought the boxing world couldn’t get any weirder, 2025 throws another curveball. Or maybe it’s a haymaker. Honestly, who can tell anymore? Anthony Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion of the world, is reportedly finalizing a deal to fight Jake Paul.
Yes, you read that right. The man who once stood at the pinnacle of heavyweight boxing is now slated to touch gloves with a YouTuber-turned-fighter in a Miami showdown this December. It feels like a fever dream, but the ink is almost dry, and Netflix is already clearing its schedule to broadcast what might be the most bizarre crossover event since… well, since Jake Paul fought Mike Tyson.
Why is Paul vs. Joshua Happening?
So, how did we get here? This whole spectacle is the result of a scheduling scramble. Paul was originally set to face Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a high-profile exhibition. But that fight imploded after Davis found himself entangled in some serious domestic violence allegations, leading to a civil lawsuit and the fight’s cancellation.
Never one to miss an opportunity for self-promotion, Paul took to social media to righteously blast Davis as a “walking human piece of garbage” before his promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, started frantically searching for a new dance partner. Names like Ryan Garcia and Terence Crawford were thrown around, but somehow, the roulette wheel landed on Anthony Joshua.
What’s In it for Paul?
For Jake Paul, this is the ultimate “hold my beer” moment. He’s taking a colossal leap, not just in weight class, but in credibility. Beating a legend like Mike Tyson, who was nearing 60, is one thing. Stepping into the ring with a 36-year-old former heavyweight king like Joshua is another level of audacity entirely.
Let’s be real: Paul has built a career on spectacle over substance. He’s the P.T. Barnum of boxing, a master of drawing eyeballs and riling up traditionalists. A fight against Joshua, regardless of the outcome, is a massive win for his brand. He gets to share the ring with a true heavyweight great, cement his status as a pay-per-view magnet, and laugh all the way to the bank. If he somehow wins? He shatters the boxing universe.
Is Joshua Taking a Risk With Paul?
For Joshua, this move is a head-scratcher. After getting dismantled by Daniel Dubois in his last outing, you’d think “AJ” would be focused on a legitimate comeback trail to reclaim his spot among the heavyweight elite. Instead, he’s veering into a high-risk, low-reward sideshow.
A win against Paul does absolutely nothing for his legacy. He’s supposed to win. He’s bigger, more experienced, and, by all accounts, a real, pedigreed boxer. But if the unthinkable happens—if he gets clipped, if he looks sluggish, or God forbid, if he loses—it’s a career-ending humiliation. The pressure is entirely on him.
So why take the fight? The payday must be astronomical. Netflix is throwing around mind-boggling sums after the Tyson-Paul fight shattered streaming records. For a fighter in the twilight of his career, a massive, guaranteed payday against a less dangerous opponent might just be too tempting to refuse.
This fight isn’t for the purists. It’s for the chaos. It’s a collision of legitimate sport and influencer clout, and it’s going to be an absolute train wreck you can’t look away from. Get your popcorn ready, because Miami in December just became the center of the sports universe.
