Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight date officially announced | Boxing | Sport

Anthony Joshua is set to square off against Jake Paul with their Christmas showdown officially confirmed. The former heavyweight world champion will go toe-to-toe with the YouTube sensation on December 19 in Miami.

The bout, which is expected to last eight three-minute rounds, will be conducted as a professional contest. Joshua sees this fight as a warm-up before his return to Saudi Arabia in February.

Joshua is then anticipated to finally face Tyson Fury in a London stadium next September. Joshua hasn’t stepped into the ring since his brutal knockout by Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September and has faced widespread criticism for accepting a match with social media star Paul.

However, the Brit is predicted to pocket at least £50 million from the fight, which will be broadcast live on Netflix, despite being signed exclusively to streaming service DAZN. On the other hand, Paul has built up his record by taking on ex-MMA stars and controversially beat a 58-year-old Mike Tyson a year ago. He has primarily competed at cruiserweight and could be at a three-stone weight disadvantage against Joshua.

The American’s only encounter with a boxing peer ended in defeat when he faced Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul was scheduled to fight lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis last Friday but pulled out of the fight after his opponent was accused of kidnap by his ex-girlfriend. Paul’s most recent outing was a one-sided clash with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in the summer.

Paul initially challenged Joshua earlier this year, with the two subsequently discussing a potential bout over the phone. “I want to fight Anthony Joshua because I know I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s ass,” he declared on his YouTube show BS with Jake Paul.

“He doesn’t have a chin and he has no skill and he’s stiff. I love you, Anthony, we’re friends and all this s*** but I want to fight you. I will beat Canelo, I will beat a lot of f***ing people.

“I talked to Anthony on the phone,” Paul added. “He called me up and said, ‘I saw you call me out, let’s run it. Let’s make it happen.’

Heavyweight Dave Allen was amongst those who criticised Joshua’s decision to potentially face Paul, stating: “Jake Paul lost to Tommy Fury.

“Anthony Joshua cannot box Jake Paul… [it’s] horrific. It is dangerous for one, and two, if Jake Paul even lands a glove on him, it just diminishes everything Joshua has achieved.

“Jake Paul won’t last two minutes with me, never mind Anthony Joshua. It is ridiculous. It is a joke. I would lose a bit of respect for him, and I think a lot of boxing people would as well. Why would he box him? Two-time Olympic champion of the world, one of the best heavyweights of the last twenty years. Held British boxing on his back. Why would he do it?”