Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will return to the ring next month in a headline-grabbing bout against YouTube personality Jake Paul, Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Monday.
The contest, scheduled for 19 December at the Kaseya Center in Florida, will see the 36-year-old Briton take on the American influencer-turned-boxer in an eight-round professional fight.
The bout, which will be streamed live on Netflix, will be fought with 10-ounce gloves.
Paul, 28, enters the match-up with a 12-1 record. His profile surged after defeating former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Texas in November 2024, followed by a unanimous-decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June.
He had been due to face Gervonta Davis this month, but that fight was cancelled following a civil lawsuit filed against the WBA lightweight champion.
Declaring the clash a defining moment in his career, Paul said: "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."
"To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami… the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep," he added.
Joshua, who has not fought since being stopped by fellow Briton Daniel Dubois in their IBF title fight at Wembley last September, described the matchup as a "big opportunity."
"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," he said.
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