Anthony Joshua breaks silence on Jake Paul fight as Netflix confirm details

The rumoured Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight has been confirmed by broadcaster Netflix and will take place next month.

YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul (12-1) will take on the former heavyweight world champion Joshua (28-4) on December 19.

The event is dubbed ‘Judgement Day’ and the professional fight has been confirmed to take place over eight rounds at heavyweight.

The American and the Brit will meet at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

Joshua said: ‘Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy. I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me.

‘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.

‘Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.’

Paul added: ‘This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day. A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime.

‘When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title. To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry.

‘On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep. I KNOWWWW YOU GOT EM PICKED HAHAHHA.’

AJ wrote on X: ‘He’s loco mhen’ with a link to tickets to the event, which go on pre-sale on November 21, before general sale the following day.

Chairman of Matchroom Sport, Eddie Hearn, said: ‘They say be careful what you wish for, kind of feel like that’s all I need to say.

‘Two of the biggest names in the sport will collide on December 19. Whilst I admire Jake’s balls, he’s going to find out the hard way in Miami.’

Paul has beaten an array of MMA fighters, journeymen and boxers considerably past their prime.

He out-pointed Mike Tyson last year and Julio Cesar Chavez in June in his two most recent wins. His only loss came against Tommy Fury via split decision in February 2023.

Paul was due to face lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout on November 14 but the event was cancelled due to criminal allegations against Davis.

The step up to fight a heavyweight in a professional bout is vast, with the lightweight limit at 135lbs and Joshua weighing in for his last fight at 252lbs.

Joshua has not fought since a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024.

‘Everyone laughed when Jake Paul said in March that he wanted to fight AJ in 2026,’ said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. ‘Well, plans changed, and in under two weeks, MVP and Netflix have made one of the biggest fights of all time.

‘Now, as only Jake Paul could and would do, he’s fighting one of the most fearsome boxers in the world. Joshua has every advantage in this fight, except one – the delusional confidence of Jake Paul, and if anyone can shock the world, it’s him.

‘This is a global clash between two of the most recognizable figures in the sport, Jake, the face of boxing’s new era, and Joshua, the King of UK boxing.’

More to follow…

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