Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on December 19, facing Jake Paul in a highly unusual matchup at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The fight, which will air live on Netflix, marks Joshua’s first appearance since his stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois last September.
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) was originally scheduled to face Gervonta Davis this month before Davis’ legal issues forced the cancellation. With that matchup gone, Paul and his team quickly pivoted, securing Joshua in what is easily the biggest and most dangerous fight of the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s career.
“This is what you wanted,” Paul said in a statement. “A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime. When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears.”
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) has been out of the ring for over a year while recovering from an elbow injury. Matchroom had planned a simpler tune-up for the former unified heavyweight champion, but negotiations accelerated once Netflix expressed interest in hosting a major end-of-year event.
His manager, Freddie Cunningham, confirmed the deal on social media: “Jake v Joshua done deal. Ground-breaking event.”
The move is a risky one for Paul, who has beaten names such as Julio César Chávez Jr. and several MMA fighters but has never shared a ring with a true world-level heavyweight. Joshua, by contrast, knocked out Francis Ngannou in two rounds back in 2024 and still intends to chase a world title shot in 2026.
With Joshua tied to DAZN and Paul working independently, the fight required significant cooperation between platforms, adding to the event’s novelty. Promoter Eddie Hearn called it “a little Christmas treat before a huge 2026.”
Fight card:
▪️Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, 8 rounds, heavyweight
