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What was supposed to be an exhibition match against Gervonta “Tank” Davis, about 40 pounds lighter than Jake Paulturned into a professional heavyweight fight with Anthony Joshua.
Paul's fight with the two-time champion will take place December 19 at Kaseya Center in Miami and it will be a sanctioned heavyweight bout. A total of eight rounds of three minutes are scheduled using 10-ounce gloves.
Paul was criticized for fighting opponents for many reasons: Mike Tyson was too old, Andre August and Ryan Bourland were no-names, and Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva were MMA fighters, not boxers.
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Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua meet after a press conference for their heavyweight boxing match at the Kayesa Centre. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Of course, Joshua is no longer in his prime – he last held the title in August 2022, and in his last fight he lost. IBF title fight vs. Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024. But it does tick all the boxes of Paul's critics. Joshua is five inches taller and Paul has just one heavyweight fight in his career, last year against Tyson. And it hasn't been long since Joshua's last main event.
“You know the world is against me, but they don't understand that I've got them where I want them to be,” Paul said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
Paul may well be the face of boxing. Some might say it's not for the right reasons, but they expect the situation to change in a couple of weeks.
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua meet after a press conference for their heavyweight boxing match at the Kayesa Centre. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
“When I knock out Anthony Joshua and win, I will become the face and king of boxing and people will undoubtedly not be able to say anything. There is silence across the board,” Paul said. “So they think they've got me in a corner, but in reality I've got the world in a corner and that's where I want them to be.
“I know God is on my side and I believe in it. He has always guided me in everything I have done in my boxing career and in my life. And so I can go into the ring with extreme confidence, knowing that this is the right moment for me.”
(LR) Jake Paul was declared the winner over Mike Tyson during the live event on Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024)
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Joshua is 28-4 in his career, while Paul is 12-1.
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