Anthony Joshua is preparing to use Jake Paul as a springboard to big heavyweight fights.
The 2012 London Olympic gold medal winner today announced that he would face Jake Paul, on Netflix, on Friday, December 19 in Miami, Florida.
Joshua was wounded by his fifth-round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois last September, to the extent that he has not boxed in more than a year since.
The popular Englishman was also nursing an arm injury and he and promoter Eddie Hearn have discussed what they want 2026 to look like as Joshua, 36, prepares to explore what happens in retirement and without boxing.
“I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show,” said Joshua of fighting Paul. “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.”
Joshua shot to fame in 2012 at the London Olympics and has not looked back. He is one of Britain’s most famous faces and has sold out stadiums for years. He’s boxed the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Carlos Takam, Andy Ruiz, Dillian Whyte and Kubrat Pulev but suffered consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk as the Ukrainian set about establishing himself as the best heavyweight of the era.
However, Joshua missed out on a lucrative unification fight with Deontay Wilder years ago, and has yet to face his biggest domestic rival, Tyson Fury, in a fight some hope will still happen – next summer.
Paul-Joshua is on Netflix, is promoted by MVP – Paul’s company – according to the fight poster, and Paul is on the left-hand side of the promotional artwork, often reserved for the A-side.
And for a novelty bout that is likely to do incredible numbers in the build-up and on the night, Paul has 28.2m followers on Instagram and Joshua has 16.3m.
On a story on Joshua’s Instagram, he merely said of Paul: “He’s loco mhen!”
