British boxing champion Anthony Joshua is preparing for a lucrative showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami, with the former two-time heavyweight world champion expected to earn approximately £70 million (₦135 billion) for the Netflix-streamed event.
The fight marks Joshua’s return to the ring after his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley 15 months ago. Joshua views the Paul matchup as preparation for a potential September clash with Tyson Fury, though he acknowledges the purse won’t set a personal record for his career earnings.
High Expectations and Knockout Pressure
Joshua has openly acknowledged the pressure to deliver a decisive victory. Speaking to TMZ, the heavyweight contender expressed understanding of fans’ expectations that he should dominate Paul quickly.
“I really understand where they’re coming from. I understand. I get it,” Joshua said. “I know the expectations and demands these fans have. And I respect it… I need to [knock him out] and that’s my intention, to seek and destroy.”
Promoter Dismisses Fixed Fight Rumours
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has addressed speculation about the fight being scripted, firmly denying any predetermined outcome while emphasizing Joshua’s intention to finish the fight quickly.
“Is there a script? Yeah, there is a script: we come out and try to knock him out clean – out cold – as soon as possible,” Hearn stated, adding that professional sanctioned contests cannot legally have scripts and that Joshua would never participate in an exhibition match.
Hearn expressed confidence that Paul will be overwhelmed by Joshua’s experience and power, describing the American as vulnerable to shots he won’t see coming.
The Fighters’ Backgrounds
Jake Paul enters the bout with a 12-1 professional boxing record, having recently defeated former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. His victories include wins over several ex-UFC fighters and a controversial points decision over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November 2024.
Paul has been training with heavyweight contenders Lawrence Okolie, Jared Anderson, and Frank Sanchez in preparation for facing Joshua.
Joshua, meanwhile, held the unified world heavyweight championship twice between 2017-2019 and 2019-2021, along with British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2015-2016. He is currently training in Spain at the base of unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The Netflix-streamed event is expected to become one of the most-watched fights in boxing history, capitalizing on both Joshua’s championship pedigree and Paul’s massive social media following.
