Anthony Joshua announces fight against Jake Paul who beat Mike Tyson

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has announced an upcoming bout against Jake Paul, slated for Friday, December 19, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 

This will be the two-time unified world heavyweight champion's first fight since the disappointing KO defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. 

As stated, the Olympic gold medallist will return from a long layoff to face Jake Paul in a professional (not exhibition) heavyweight bout, and the fight will be streamed globally on Netflix. 

Joshua will be putting his pro record on the line, which stands at 28–4 (25 KOs); his most recent high-profile result was the shock fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 after a 2023 win over Francis Ngannou. 

According to the Guardian, the fight is booked as a legitimate, Queensberry-rules professional showdown of eight three-minute rounds. Both fighters will use 10 oz gloves, and according to Championship Rounds, AJ cannot weigh more than 245 lbs. To put that in perspective, he weighed in at 252.5 lbs against Dubois.

While Joshua is on the decline, his opponent Jake Paul, whose record sits around 12–1, is on the ascendancy following the recent headline-arresting high-profile win over Mike Tyson in November 2024.

The YouTuber turned professional boxer has used social media and his platforms (podcasts and YouTube) to relentlessly goad Joshua, calling the bout “Judgement Day” and framing it as his chance to validate himself as a serious fighter. While Joshua has publicly promised to “show no mercy” as he attempts a comeback and big commercial payday. 

And a big payday is indeed expected, as Netflix’s successful broadcast of Paul vs Tyson (a record-breaking streamed event) was a lucrative affair, with Paul reported to have made tens of millions from the match.  

Reputationally, the stakes for both fighters are vastly different. Paul chases legitimacy and a pathway to title contention, while Joshua risks further damage to an elite pedigree that has been dented by recent defeats.

Even a win for Joshua would do little to boost the perception of his current ability to compete amongst the best in the sport, as fans have witnessed him lose embarrassingly to Dubois after putting Francis Ngannou (another aspiring pro) in his place. However, it would certainly help his brand, especially in American markets where Paul excels.