Can Jake Paul Pull Off the Impossible Against Anthony Joshua?
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua faces YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a controversial eight-round bout tonight in Miami, streamed live on Netflix. Can Paul pull off the ultimate upset?
Jake Paul (left) and Anthony Joshua during Thursday's weigh-in for their December 19 clash at Kaseya Center. Credit: Most Valuable Promotions / Netflix
Tonight, under the bright lights of Miami's Kaseya Center, one of boxing's most improbable matchups becomes reality: YouTuber turned prizefighter Jake Paul faces former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a professional eight-round heavyweight bout, streamed live on Netflix.
Billed as Judgment Day, the fight pits the sport's ultimate disruptor against one of its most decorated traditional heavyweights. Paul, 28, brings a 12-1 record (7 KOs) built on high-profile wins over aging legends and crossover stars. Joshua, 36, enters with a 28-4 mark (25 KOs), including Olympic gold and reigns atop the division.
The clash has divided opinion like few others. Critics decry it as a mismatch, citing Joshua's vast experience, size advantage (he weighed in at 243.4lbs to Paul's 216.6lbs), and devastating power. Promoters and streaming giants see it as a blockbuster that could shatter viewing records, following Paul's Netflix debut against Mike Tyson last year.
Paul has long chased this kind of legitimacy. "This is Judgment Day," he declared after the announcement. "When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears." His preparation included sparring with heavyweight contenders, and he predicts a mid-round knockout, calling it a "biblical" upset.
Joshua, returning after a 15-month layoff and knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024, views it differently. "I'm carrying boxing on my back," he said this week, dismissing suggestions he'll carry Paul. Controversial comments about being willing to "kill" his opponent drew rebuke, but Joshua insists he's in a ruthless mindset.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, long associated with Joshua, called the payday "career-high" while insisting it's no exhibition fully sanctioned with betting allowed.
The undercard features women's title defenses and intriguing rematches, but all eyes are on the main event. Ring walks are expected around 11pm ET (4am GMT), with the fight limited to eight three-minute rounds using 10oz gloves in a larger 22x22-foot ring.
Whatever the outcome swift Joshua dominance or Paul shocker this bout encapsulates boxing's evolving landscape: tradition versus entertainment, purism versus spectacle.
Will Paul rewrite the script, or will Joshua deliver a harsh lesson? The bell rings tonight.
