Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is currently in discussions to schedule a boxing match in December, and there is a possibility he will face social media personality turned professional fighter Jake Paul in Miami. This comes after Paul canceled his planned exhibition fight with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis. Meanwhile, Joshua has not fought since his defeat to Daniel Dubois.
Reports from Sky Sports News indicate that negotiations are underway between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul for a potential heavyweight bout in December in Miami. Joshua, who hails from Britain and is a two-time world heavyweight champion, has been on the sidelines since his loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. As he prepares for his return, the match with Paul, a former YouTube star turned boxing contender, represents a highly anticipated opportunity for Joshua to re-establish his presence in the boxing arena.
Jake Paul had been gearing up to take on Gervonta Davis, but those plans fell through due to the recent filing of a civil lawsuit against Davis, prompting a shift in focus towards a match with Joshua. The idea of Joshua, a skilled and experienced boxer, facing off against Paul, who is still relatively inexperienced in the professional boxing world, has captivated both fans and experts alike.
Paul’s professional boxing experience includes only one fight at heavyweight, which was an eight-round exhibition against a much older Mike Tyson last year, where they used larger 14-ounce gloves. In stark contrast, Anthony Joshua has a well-documented career, marked by his achievement of winning the Olympic super-heavyweight gold medal in 2012, as well as capturing the unified heavyweight championship title on two separate occasions. He has previously fought against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, a bout that Joshua won decisively in just two rounds, showcasing his prowess as a formidable pugilist.
Despite the significant difference in their boxing backgrounds, Jake Paul has expressed a genuine enthusiasm for the challenge of stepping into the ring against a champion like Anthony Joshua. He conveyed his perspective to Sky Sports, stating, “To take on a massive risk and a substantial challenge in a fight where no one believes I stand a chance excites me.” This highlights Paul’s motivation to step outside his comfort zone and prove his worth, even when faced with a heavyweight of Joshua’s caliber, who is widely viewed as one of the best in the sport.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Joshua, has also weighed in on the potential for Joshua to have a preliminary fight as early as December. He mentioned that a decision on whether Joshua will return to the ring this year is due shortly. In his remarks, Hearn noted, “We will make a decision this week on if he will fight this year. We have to decide by this weekend basically.” His excitement for Joshua’s return is palpable, as he expressed a desire to see Joshua in action, stating, “I’d love him to go in there and just smash someone up,” reinforcing the fervor surrounding the prospect of Joshua’s comeback.
The possibility of a bout between Joshua and Paul is one that Hearn admits is beyond what they initially anticipated. “AJ-Paul is never a fight we anticipated, and it’s never a fight we’ve targeted,” he remarked. Despite this, Hearn acknowledges the potential financial rewards and monumental interest this match could provoke. “If you want Jake Paul to be the warm-up fight [for Tyson Fury] — and it’s undoubtedly a lucrative opportunity for AJ — then providing Joshua with the chance to possibly eliminate Jake Paul from boxing makes sense,” added Hearn.
While Hearn recognizes that Paul may be a strong cruiserweight, he questions Paul’s competitiveness against a fighter of Joshua’s stature, expressing, “I don’t think he’s particularly competitive, but in the world we live in, many people would be inclined to watch it.” The anticipated fight could generate massive viewership, positioning it as potentially one of the most significant spectacles in contemporary boxing, despite questions regarding its competitive authenticity.
Ultimately, if Jake Paul is daring enough to step into the ring with Anthony Joshua, it could spark an extraordinarily engaging confrontation. The enormous financial incentives for both athletes might drive them towards finalizing what could become one of the most sensational matches in boxing history. This unlikely pair has caught the attention of enthusiasts, and if a deal is successfully reached, it will certainly create a massive buzz across media platforms and among boxing fans on a global scale. The excitement surrounding this potential bout is not merely about boxing technique but also the spectacle it represents in the evolving world of sports entertainment, where traditional boundaries continue to be blurred.
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