MIAMI — YouTube star Jake Paul will face former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami next month, Matchroom Boxing announced.
The fight between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and Joshua, the 36-year-old former two-time unified world champion, will take place at the Kaseya Center in Florida on December 19.
The fight, which will be streamed live on Netflix, will consist of eight three-minute rounds, with the boxers using 10-ounce gloves.
America’s Paul, 28, who has a 12-1 record, beat heavyweight great Mike Tyson in Texas in November 2024.
He claimed a unanimous-decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June and had been set to take on Gervonta Davis this month before the fight was cancelled after a civil lawsuit was filed against the WBA lightweight champion.
“This isn’t an AI simulation, this is judgment day,” said Paul.
“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,” added Paul according to AFP.
“To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami… the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”
Joshua, who has not fought since being stopped by British compatriot Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September last year in their IBF title bout, said it was a “big opportunity”.
“Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected,” he said.
“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.”
Conor Benn, meanwhile, silenced his critics and declared the family rivalry settled after delivering a masterful performance against a struggling Chris Eubank Jr. in a fight that marked his redemption.
The sons of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr. had produced a classic showdown in April, which went in Eubank Jr.’s favor, extending the Eubank family’s edge to 2-0 across three historic bouts.
The fourth and final instalment didn’t quite match the drama of previous encounters, but Benn put on a composed display, arguably the best of his career, to secure a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the dominant fight 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108.
After Eubank Sr. triumphed in the first clash in Birmingham in 1990, a controversial draw three years later left Nigel Benn furious. Now, Conor Benn has ended a 35-year wait for his family, producing two knockdowns in the 12th round to seal his supremacy before concluding the feud with a sportsmanlike embrace with Eubank Jr.
“Everyone saying I can’t box, put that in your pipe and smoke it,” an elated Benn said.
“It’s been a journey, and this is the end of the Benn-Eubank saga. Done, finished, it’s over. Chris has twins coming, I’ve got my boy, but this ends here.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without Chris, and of course, our dads. This is generational—it’s never been done before in history,” Benn added, according to Reuters.
“Credit to Chris, man. That’s all I’ve got to say. Thank you for sharing the ring with me.”
