From Canceled Fight to Mega Showdown
American boxer Jake Paul has organized a major new boxing event for Netflix after his previously scheduled fight with Gervonta Davis fell through. The YouTube star-turned-professional fighter will now face British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in what promises to be one of the most watched boxing events of the year.
The dramatic shift in opponents came after Davis encountered legal troubles involving a civil case linked to charges of battery and other serious offenses. Rather than postpone his boxing ambitions, Paul pivoted to secure what many consider an even bigger matchup against one of boxing's most recognized names.
Fighters Exchange Fiery Words
Jake Paul didn't hold back when announcing the fight, declaring it "Judgment Day" rather than an "AI simulation." The 27-year-old made bold claims about what a victory would mean for his career.
"When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title," Paul stated in comments reported by Deadline. He added a message to his critics: "To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry."
Anthony Joshua responded with equal confidence, making it clear he has no intention of going easy on the social media star. The British boxer emphasized his return to the ring after some time off and his focus on breaking records.
"I'm here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record while keeping cool, calm and collected," Joshua said. "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."
Fight Details and Experience Gap
The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for December 19 and will stream live globally exclusively on Netflix from Miami. The fight format includes:
- 8 rounds total
- 3-minute rounds
- 10oz gloves
The experience difference between the two fighters is substantial. Jake Paul has participated in 13 professional boxing matches, winning 12 of them. His only defeat came against Tommy Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua brings significantly more professional experience with 32 fights under his belt, winning 28 of them. The British boxer has established himself as one of the most formidable heavyweights in the world, with most of his victories coming by knockout.
Paul acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating: "On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain's Goliath gets put to sleep."
Netflix's Big Swing in Live Sports
This event marks Paul's second live boxing presentation on Netflix and represents another major move by the streaming giant into live sports programming. Gabe Spitzer, Vice President of Sports at Netflix, expressed excitement about the matchup.
Spitzer described Anthony Joshua as "one of the toughest and most accomplished heavyweights in the world" and called him "the ultimate test for any fighter." He praised Paul's decision to take on such a formidable opponent as demonstrating bold ambition for his boxing career.
"This is exactly why Netflix is in the live business: we love taking big swings and delivering the biggest, must-watch cultural spectacles," Spitzer emphasized, highlighting the platform's strategy to capture major sporting events.
The switch from Davis to Joshua has generated significant attention among boxing fans and casual viewers alike, with many curious to see how Paul will handle a genuine world champion after building his record largely against mixed martial artists and fellow internet personalities.
