Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight date officially | Boxing News

Anthony Joshua is set to sq. 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 anticipated to last eight three-minute rounds, can be carried out as a skilled 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 confronted 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 can be broadcast live on Netflix, despite being signed completely to streaming service DAZN. On the other hand, Paul has constructed up his file by taking on ex-MMA stars and controversially beat a 58-year-old Mike Tyson a 12 months in the past. He has primarily competed at cruiserweight and could possibly be at a three-stone weight drawback against Joshua.

The American’s only encounter with a boxing peer ended in defeat when he confronted Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul was scheduled to fight light-weight 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 current outing was a one-sided conflict with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in the summer season.

Paul initially challenged Joshua earlier this 12 months, with the 2 subsequently discussing a potential bout over the cellphone. “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 cellphone,” Paul added. “He called me up and said, ‘I noticed you call me out, let’s run it. Let’s make it occur.’

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

“Anthony Joshua can not box Jake Paul… [it’s] horrific. It is harmful for one, and two, if Jake Paul even lands a glove on him, it just diminishes all the things 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?”