Jake Paul to Fight Anthony Joshua in Heavyweight Bout After Davis Cancellation
In a surprising turn of events, social media star turned boxer Jake Paul will now face two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on December 19 in Miami, following the cancellation of Paul’s planned exhibition match with Gervonta “Tank” Davis. This unexpected development came after Davis found himself in legal trouble, facing accusations of assault and battery against his ex-girlfriend at a strip club where she worked. The incident, which also involved written death threats, led to the termination of the originally scheduled November 14 bout. The cancellation opened the door for what many boxing fans might consider a much more significant matchup between Paul and Joshua, positioning the YouTuber-turned-fighter against one of boxing’s most recognized heavyweight talents in recent years.
The upcoming fight at Miami’s Kaseya Center will be a sanctioned heavyweight contest scheduled for eight three-minute rounds with 10-ounce gloves, streaming globally on Netflix. Paul, known for his confident demeanor, didn’t hold back in his announcement, stating, “When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title.” He directly addressed his critics and the British boxing community, dramatically claiming that “the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep” when they meet in the ring. Paul’s bold prediction reflects his typical promotional style, which has helped him build a substantial following in boxing despite his unconventional entry into the sport through celebrity and exhibition matches.
For Joshua, this represents his first fight since losing an IBF title bout against Daniel Dubois in September 2024. The British boxer, who last held a championship title in August 2022, appears to view the Paul fight as part of a strategic comeback, saying, “I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me.” Joshua also highlighted the commercial aspects of the matchup, noting, “Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected.” His participation in this high-profile bout against a non-traditional opponent signals a potential shift in how established boxers approach cross-over fights that promise substantial financial returns and mainstream attention.
When Paul’s fight with Davis fell through, the social media personality did not mince words in his criticism of the boxer. Paul labeled Davis “an actual walking human piece of garbage” and condemned his behavior both professionally and personally. “Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, the showing up hours late to shoots. To the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits,” Paul vented on Instagram. His strong stance against Davis seemed to reflect both personal frustration and a moral position, as he added, “I didn’t want to give this woman abuser a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account. My company champions women.” The cancellation appeared to be a principled decision for Paul, though the subsequent announcement of the Joshua fight suggests he and his team quickly pivoted to secure an even bigger opportunity.
This matchup continues Paul’s pattern of gradually increasing the caliber of his opposition. After starting with other social media personalities and former MMA fighters, Paul has methodically worked his way toward more legitimate boxing challenges. This will mark his second heavyweight contest, following his unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson last year—a bout that generated enormous attention despite criticisms regarding the 58-year-old Tyson’s age and fitness. The Joshua fight represents Paul’s most credible opponent to date, facing a boxer who is not only accomplished but also still in his competitive prime years, unlike Tyson who had been long retired from professional competition.
The December 19 event exemplifies the evolving landscape of boxing promotion, where traditional pathways to big fights are increasingly supplemented by crossover matchups that leverage social media followings and streaming platforms. Joshua’s willingness to participate suggests that even elite boxers recognize the value of these unconventional pairings in reaching new audiences. As Joshua himself predicted, “Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future.” Whether this trend represents a positive innovation or a concerning dilution of boxing’s competitive integrity remains a subject of debate among purists, but the financial incentives and expanded viewership appear to be pushing the sport in this direction for the foreseeable future. For Paul, a competitive showing—or the highly unlikely scenario of a victory—against Joshua would substantially bolster his boxing credentials, while Joshua stands to benefit financially while potentially introducing himself to a younger, more digitally-engaged audience.
