Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are reportedly set to fight on Friday, December 19.
It emerged on Wednesday that the pair are finalizing negotiations for an unexpected heavyweight showdown in Miami.
According to Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, the fight is now slated to take place on the Friday before Christmas.
Daily Mail reported Thursday that, while negotiations remain ongoing, a gargantuan prize pot of around $185m (£140m) has been mooted. The plan is for an even split between the two-time heavyweight world champion and You-Tuber turned boxer Paul.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn stressed to the Daily Mail on Thursday that any deal is not yet finalized over what would be the 36-year-old’s first fight since he was crushed by Daniel Dubois 14 months ago.
However, there is an expectation among those connected to the talks that it could be confirmed early next week and, significantly, it would not be billed as an ‘exhibition’.
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua’s fight is reportedly taking place on December 19 in Miami
The American, 28, had been scheduled to face Gervonta Davis this Saturday night but the bout was cancelled due to allegations of domestic violence that the latter faces.
Paul has a 12-1 record with seven knockouts and last fought in June when he beat former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision.
A month later, Paul entered the World Boxing Association cruiserweight rankings, so would need to make a step up in weight if the Joshua fight was to materialize.
Paul’s sole loss came against Tommy Fury, younger brother of Tyson Fury and better known for his stint on Love Island.
Hearn added that Joshua´s priority is to get in shape to revive his career and fight Tyson Fury, a fellow British former heavyweight champion who is currently retired, in 2026.
‘The focus for us really is 2026 and that is a big fight in February or March and then Tyson Fury,’ Hearn added. ‘We want the real stuff but we want the business as well.’
Wednesday’s development led to huge outcry from the boxing community over the state the sport finds itself in. Should AJ accept a fight with Paul, it threatens to undo his legacy as a two-time heavyweight champion.
Veteran heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora says that nothing less than a devastating performance from Joshua will appease the fans.
‘AJ took a year out, easy fight for him and I think it should be laid to rest because I don’t think AJ’s going to go in there and try and pat [him]. AJ is going to smoke him,’ he told iFL TV.
Joshua has not fought since his bruising defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024
Paul has won 12 of his 13 bouts, including against icon Mike Tyson, who was then aged 58
‘I will say this about AJ: don’t let that guy [Paul] knock you out, because that will be f***ing nightmares forever, but AJ has to kill him in three rounds.
‘[If it goes beyond three rounds] it doesn’t mean I back Jake Paul [to win], it means what is AJ doing? He has to smoke him in three rounds, the same way he did with Ngannou.
‘How many rounds was Ngannou? Two? Exactly, so he has to smoke him in two rounds.’
Meanwhile, fans and pundits have said that a fight with Paul will undermine AJ’s impressive resume – which includes wins over Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Dillian Whyte.
‘Anthony Joshua will wreck his legacy with demeaning Jake Paul fight,’ said one fan on X.
Another said: ‘Always been a big Joshua fan, saw his semi-final at London 2012. Hugely overcriticized throughout his career. But even if this lasts 10 seconds, it tarnishes his legacy.’
Boxing expert Gareth A Davies said: ‘It really damages his legacy as a two-time heavyweight champion of the world if he’s truly taking another run at big fights.’
Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, told Daily Mail Sport: ‘People are going to criticize it but I don’t see it that way. I don’t like these fights where an old fighter in his late-fifties is dragged into the ring, but as long as these guys are both fit, which they are, then I don’t have a problem.
‘People always say Jake Paul only takes on opponents who don’t have a pulse, so you can’t knock him for this, if it goes ahead. It will get a huge audience – AJ doesn’t cause a lot of noise in the US and Paul does. People like car crashes. It will do well.’
