Background and build-up
In July 2025, Eddie Hearn discussed a possible fight between Paul and Joshua, noting the increasing interest following Paul’s earlier call-out to Joshua. He mentioned that conversations were ongoing with Turki Alalshikh. He said, “You know, obviously it'll be up to AJ and myself what AJ does, and Nakisa [Bidarian] and Jake, what they do – but also the power of Turki Alalshikh bringing it together, making it a mega-event. We're up for it. You know, it's not a fight we targeted. It's not a fight we anticipated. But as I said, if it's there and it's open and it's a running-up fight before Tyson Fury, why not?” Hearn suggested that the fight could attract considerable viewership and revenue, even though there were concerns about its competitiveness. [6] Ben Davison, Joshua's trainer, expressed concerns about the safety risks associated with him fighting Paul. Davison was not under a long-term contract with Joshua; instead, their arrangement was more flexible, which suggested that he might not be training Joshua for the upcoming fight. [7]
On August 8, it was announced that Joshua would return to the ring in December 2025. One potential opponent was French Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka (14–3, 11 KOs). Another possible opponent was Paul, although Joshua stated that he was not interested in influencer boxing. Yoka recently signed with Queensberry Promotions, which increased the chances of a matchup with Joshua. French promoter Yohan Zaoui was confident that Joshua would fight Yoka next. According to Hearn, Paul was the "front-runner" for Joshua's next fight. [8] [9] On August 20, Paul announced an exhibition fight against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis to take place in November 2025. [10] Two weeks prior to their fight, Davis was mentioned in a civil lawsuit that accused him of violent behaviour, battery, and kidnapping. [11] On November 4, Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix announced the cancellation of the card. [12] [13]
On November 12, Ring Magazine reported that both Paul and Joshua were finalizing a deal to fight in December in Miami, on Netflix. Negotiations were challenging due to Joshua being tied to DAZN, and Paul wanting to use Netflix. Paul had considered other opponents like Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia, but they were unavailable. Following the cancellation of the Davis fight, Paul began recruiting heavyweight sparring partners to prepare for his next fight. [14] [15] On November 13, Hearn stated the reports of the fight agreement nearing were premature. Joshua was scheduled to fight in Riyadh in February 2026 and was likely to take a low-key fight before then, which was rumoured to be American boxer Cassius Chaney, according to Chaney's coach Kenny Ellis. Hearn later confirmed these rumours, stating Joshua vs. Chaney was going to be a surprise bout on the Ring IV: Night Of Champions event on November 22. [16] The two fight would then lead up to a mega-fight against Tyson Fury, in the fall of 2026. [17] [18]
On November 17, a heavyweight boxing match between Paul and Joshua was officially announced, scheduled for December 19, at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The event will be streamed live on Netflix and will feature eight rounds of three minutes each with 10-ounce gloves. The fight represented a significant challenge for Paul, who had primarily competed as a cruiserweight and considerably less professional experience compared to Joshua, known for his extensive boxing background and power. [19] [20]
Paul first announced the fight in a statement which read, [21]
"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."
Joshua said, "Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy [...] I'm about to break the internet over Jake Paul's face." Hearn noted the risks for Paul, suggesting he may face a harsh reality in the ring against a top-tier opponent. [22] [23] There was a clause in the contract, despite heavyweight being unlimited, Joshua was not to weigh more than 245 pounds. Nakisa Bidarian said the fight was originally going to be targeted for Spring 2026 after Paul originally started calling out Joshua as early as March 2025. [24] During the build up, Paul likened the fight to Ruiz's upset victory over Joshua, suggesting that he could achieve a similar outcome. He was confident in his abilities, claiming he possessed speed, footwork, and resilience that could challenge Joshua, also noting that he is a much smaller opponent. [25]
For his preparation, Paul brought in heavyweight contenders Frank Sánchez, Jared Anderson and Lawrence Okolie. According to trainer Joe Gallagher, Okolie had spoken positively about Paul's training efforts. [26] Two weeks before the fight, Paul was seen in a video supporting a black eye, which he sustained during a sparring session with Okolie. Despite the injury, Paul was expected to fully recover in time for the fight. During the interview, Paul mentioned his current weight of 215 pounds, indicating he needed to reach between 218 and 220 pounds for the bout. [27]
Reaction
Prior to the fight being officially announced, long time rival of Joshua, and former unified heavyweight champion - Tyson Fury, said "Jake Paul chins AJ [...] 100 percent. If they fight, I'm putting a million pounds on Jake Paul." [28]
After the fight was announced, it drew criticism from many pundits, as they believed the fight was mismatched in physical size and skill level between the fighters, Joshua being much heavier and larger than Paul and having more experience at championship level boxing than Paul. When asked about the (then only proposed) fight, British boxer Dave Allen said "it's ridiculous, it's a joke" [29] and Donald McRae, a commentator for The Guardian called the event a "circus fight", going on to say "Hopefully, there will be no need for Paul to be taken away in an ambulance". [30] Promoter Frank Warren described it as having "car crash" potential, indicating it may not go as expected. He also criticized Joshua for choosing a financially safe option instead of facing a more challenging opponent like Moses Itauma. [31] Jake Paul responded to critics saying "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.". [32]
