Source: Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua work to finalize December fight
Pairing takes shape after Gervonta Davis was dropped from exhibition against Paul following more domestic violence allegations
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For Jake Paul, it’s goodbye, Gervonta Davis; hello, Anthony Joshua.
Paul is on the verge of finalizing a deal to fight former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder Joshua on Netflix in December in Miami, a source with knowledge of the plans told Fight Freaks Unite on Wednesday, matching the initial report by Ring magazine.
Whether the fight would be an official bout or an exhibition is unclear. Also unclear was what may have gone into Joshua, who is tied to DAZN, gaining approval to fight on another streaming service.
But if the fight — one Paul has mentioned often in recent years as one of his dream fights — is finalized, it would represent a gargantuan step up for Paul and a giant payday for both of them.
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Paul, the former Disney actor best known as a YouTube and social media influencer, has fashioned his boxing career against MMA fighters moving over to boxing, non-combat athletes, lesser boxers or boxers with big names but who were long faded, such as in decision wins over Mike Tyson last November and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June.
Paul, a career 200-pound cruiserweight, was scheduled for a 10-round exhibition bout against 135-pound lightweight world titleholder Davis at a maximum weight of 195 pounds on Nov. 14 on Netflix at Kaseya Center in Miami. Davis had boxed only once as heavy as 139¾ pounds.
However, the fight was canceled on Nov. 3 when Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions dropped Davis from the fight when he was sued by former girlfriend Courtney Rossel for battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Davis has a long history of being accused of domestic violence and the recent allegations were enough to cause MVP, which is by far the world’s leading promoter of women’s boxing, to cancel the event and look to have Paul face another opponent with Dec.12 or Dec. 19 targeted.
At time the Davis event was canceled, MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian said, “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We thank Netflix, the Kaseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for their partnership.”
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs), 28, of Puerto Rico, made overtures to a variety of potential opponents, including former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (who was brutally knocked out in the second round by Joshua in March 2024); welterweight star Ryan Garcia; Hall of Fame super middleweight and light heavyweight champion Andre Ward; former UFC champion Nate Diaz, who Paul already outpointed in an official fight in 2023; and even undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford, who took that title from Canelo Alvarez by decision on Sept.13 in the year’s biggest fight, which was on Netflix.
Joshua was also on his list and the timing could be just right. It would be a massive change for the 6-foot-1 Paul, who fought at 227 pounds against the 58-year-old Tyson, in that he would be changing from preparing to face the 5-foot-5, 135-pound Davis to the 6-6, 250-pound Joshua, who may be near the end of his career but would be by far his most dangerous opponent.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), 36, the British mega star and the 2012 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, has not been in the ring since countryman Daniel Dubois, then the IBF heavyweight world titleholder, dropped him four times in an upset fifth-round decimation before some 90,000 in September 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Joshua later underwent elbow surgery and it appeared doubtful he would fight at all this year with indications from Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, his promoter, that he would most likely return in February. But Hearn changed his tune recently, saying in an interview during one of his recent events on DAZN that Joshua would indeed have a tune-up fight before the end of 2025.
Hearn acknowledged that Paul was seeking a replacement for Davis and said the pairing with Joshua was possible.
“I’ve spoken to Nakisa. We are available, subject of course to the (blessing of DAZN, the) global home of boxing with which (Matchroom Boxing has) exclusivity with and Joshua has exclusivity with,” Hearn said at the time. “If you’re asking me if we take the fight, of course we take the fight. It would be a nice way to just end this little journey (of Paul’s).
“Does Jake Paul really want to fight Anthony Joshua? He’s a crazy guy. Maybe he thinks he can catch AJ on the fly, hasn’t really been in training camp. Nothing too much to report to right now but should the opportunity present itself it would be a huge fight, and never say never.”
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This would be insane! I hope it does get made
Oops!
Dear Mr. Paul, I highly recommend a lesser opponent. Yes Joshua has lost a few fights, and may be in the back end of his career. He is however, without the crippling deficits of your other “marquee” opponents. Also his losses were to world champions or top contenders. He’s been fighting for real bro you’ve been putting on a sideshow. Careful.