The squared circle just got a dose of unexpected drama. YouTube personality Jake Paul's previous fight against Gervonta Davis was scrapped after Davis faced a serious legal hurdle, clearing the way for Paul to throw down with former heavyweight kingpin Anthony Joshua. The New York Times broke the news that the bout, initially set for last Friday at Miami's Kaseya Center, fell through after Davis was accused by an ex-girlfriend of battery and other disturbing charges.
Despite the setback, Paul's promotional outfit, Most Valuable Promotions, remains unfazed, scrambling to keep their fighter in the limelight by locking horns with Joshua. CEO Nakisa Bidarian told The New York Times, "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." A full carte du jour of fights including Paul's new opponent will be shared in due time, according to the promoters. Those with tickets in their digital pockets will see automatic refunds from Ticketmaster and are advised to connect with other resale platforms as necessary for their financial recuperation.
The fight promises to be a spectacle with the 28-year-old Paul, who sports a record of 12 wins against 1 loss, pitting his boxing might against Joshua, a two-time world champion with Olympic gold in his trophy case. Nabbing a major fight like this is no small coup for Paul, whose combat credentials are often sneered at by boxing purists. His recent unanimous decision over Julio César Chávez Jr. was a considerable notch on his belt, but facing Joshua is a different beast altogether. For Joshua, this tilt marks a comeback trail after taking a loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
“This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day,” Paul asserted in an interview with Netflix. Paul appears hungry to rip up the script, eyeing a win over Joshua as his golden ticket to undeniable legitimacy in his newfound boxing career. On the flipside, Joshua isn't shying away from the opportunity to tango with the influencer-turned-pugilist, stating, “Jake or anyone can get this work,” in a statement procured by NBC Miami. The British boxer plans to “do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected”.
The fight is scheduled for December 19, with eight three-minute rounds planned at the Kaseya Center, as reported by NBC Miami. Netflix has snagged live streaming rights for this encounter, setting the stage for what both fighters promise to be a memorable clash with high stakes and potentially internet-breaking outcomes.
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