Paul vs Joshua gets green light as officials wave through crossover clash
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will meet in a sanctioned professional bout in Florida on 19 December, despite safety fears, with standard rules, knockouts allowed, and a risky size mismatch promising drama for fans worldwide.
Image: Fayez Nureldine/AFP
THE long rumoured collision between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua is officially on, despite late worries over injuries and safety. Boxing authorities have confirmed that the controversial bout will proceed as scheduled, clearing the way for one of the most talked about crossover fights in recent years.
Speculation had intensified after reports emerged that Paul picked up a knock during sparring, fueling fears that the YouTuber turned boxer was stepping into dangerous territory against a far bigger and more seasoned opponent. Critics questioned whether the jump in class was coming too soon, but organisers have now put those concerns to rest.
The fight will take place on 19 December in Florida, with viewers in the United Kingdom able to tune in during the early hours of 20 December via Netflix. Importantly, it has been confirmed as a fully professional contest, meaning the outcome will be added to both fighters’ official records.
That decision has drawn mixed reactions within the boxing world. Some figures have openly voiced concern about Paul’s wellbeing, given the gap in size, power, and elite-level experience. At 28, Paul has built a respectable professional record, winning 12 of his 13 bouts, including seven knockouts. His only loss came in a close split decision against Tommy Fury.
Joshua’s résumé, however, tells a very different story. The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has won 28 of his 32 fights, stopping 25 opponents. His defeats have come only against Andy Ruiz Jr., Daniel Dubois, and twice against Oleksandr Usyk, all at the highest level of the sport.
Unlike Paul’s heavily modified contest against Mike Tyson, this bout will largely follow standard professional rules. The fight is scheduled for eight rounds of three minutes, with both men wearing regulation 10-ounce gloves. There will be no headgear, and knockouts are very much allowed.
Joshua must weigh in at no more than 17 stone 7 pounds on 18 December, although the shorter format remains unusual for him, marking his first fight set for fewer than ten rounds since 2015.
With a clear size advantage and Joshua openly promising no mercy, many fans fear the contest could be over quickly. That looming sense of danger has only added to the intrigue ahead of a fight that will begin around 1am UK time on Saturday, 20 December.