Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight to go ahead: Heavyweight champion to take on YouTuber in £100m showdown

The fight at the Kaseya Centre will consist of eight three-minute rounds, with the boxers using 10oz gloves.

Former world heavyweight champion Joshua has not fought since being stopped by British compatriot Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024 in their IBF title bout.

It halted Joshua’s momentum under trainer Ben Davison and his charge towards another world title.

Paul lost to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury in 2023 before he beat boxing great Mike Tyson in an eight-round fight last year.

The internet personality had been due to face Gervonta Davis until a civil lawsuit against the WBA lightweight champion scuppered that proposed November 14 exhibition fight.

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Joshua said: “Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy. I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show.

“It’s a big opportunity for me. 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.

“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.”

Paul added: “This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day.

“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.

“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, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said last week a decision was required this week if Joshua was to be active in 2025.

“We will make a decision this week in terms of if he will fight this year. We have to decide by this weekend basically,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“It doesn’t really matter where it is. You won’t know about it until maybe even fight week. Honestly. That’s the whole purpose of it.

“I think it would be so good for him but bizarre at the same time because there’s no money in the fight. We’re not going to start using him to sell tickets. Literally he will just pop up on a show.

“He’s really up for it. I think it would be so good for him. I’d love him to go in there and just smash someone up.”