After his Netflix showdown with Gervonta Davis collapsed due to new domestic violence allegations, Jake Paul didn’t just look for another opponent, he jumped straight into the fire by signing to fight Anthony Joshua in Miami. It’s a matchup nobody expected on short notice, and it’s easily the biggest gamble of Paul’s boxing career.
Instead of facing a smaller lightweight like Davis, Jake Paul now has to deal with a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, a man with Olympic gold, fight-ending power, and a résumé full of elite names. Paul knows the criticism about his choices of opponents, and he’s using this fight to silence every voice calling him a fraud.
“They said fight a real boxer. They said fight someone my size. They said fight a world champion,” Jake Paul said. “So we went bigger, literally twice as big.”
Joshua isn’t walking into this fight without pressure of his own. The British star hasn’t held a world title since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. His attempted comeback saw some success with four wins, including a brutal knockout over Francis Ngannou, but everything came crashing down when Daniel Dubois stopped him at Wembley Stadium. At 36, the age AJ once predicted he’d retire, many believe this fight might be his last run.
“I think 36 is a good age to retire,” Joshua said years ago, and that birthday just passed in October. If the writing is truly on the wall, Joshua might be closing the book exactly when he said he would.
However, before any farewell, he’s staring down a YouTuber-turned-boxer with more influence than experience, and Jake Paul is promising chaos.
Paul isn’t blind to the danger. He openly admits Joshua is his toughest test, calling him a knockout artist who represents everything people said he’d never dare face. Yet he’s leaning into the narrative, embracing the fear, and betting on himself in the loudest way possible.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little scared,” Paul said. “But make no mistake, this is the biggest fight of my career. I’m walking into the lion’s den. I will knock out and embarrass Anthony Joshua on December 19, live on Netflix.”
The stakes are massive. For Joshua, it’s about legacy and survival at the top. For Jake Paul, it’s about proving he’s more than a social media sensation. Whether fans tune in to watch him win or get wiped off the map, one thing is certain:
