In one of the most talked-about crossover matchups in recent boxing history, former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will meet YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional heavyweight bout on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The fight will stream globally on Netflix, organisers confirmed on Monday.
Promoted by Most Valuable Promotions with Matchroom Boxing involvement reported, the contest is sanctioned as a professional eight-round heavyweight bout and will be distributed exclusively via Netflix’s live sports platform — part of the streamer’s growing investment in high-profile combat events.
Jake Paul framed the matchup as the culmination of his rapid rise in the sport, calling it “Judgment Day” and describing it as an opportunity to silence critics and stake a claim for future title contention. Anthony Joshua, an Olympic gold medallist and one of the biggest names in modern heavyweight boxing said he viewed the fight as a chance for a statement comeback and expected the event to generate record viewing numbers.
Reaction across the boxing community has been mixed. Supporters of the crossover model point to Paul’s ability to generate massive audiences his prior Netflix-streamed showings drew large numbers and say that blockbuster pairings can inject fresh revenue into the sport. Skeptics and many traditionalists warn that mismatch dynamics and spectacle-first pairings risk undermining boxing’s competitive integrity. Several commentators have also expressed concern about the mismatch in professional pedigree between a former world champion and a social-media star.
Match details published so far indicate an eight-round format with rules and weight considerations to be confirmed by the sanctioning bodies. Promoters said a formal press conference is expected this week to finalise undercard, gating, and broadcasting arrangements. Betting markets and oddsmakers are already offering early lines, while fighters, trainers and pundits prepare for an event that promises substantial paydays and headline-grabbing promotion.
Joshua, 36, is a former WBA/WBO/IBF titleholder whose record and standing in the heavyweight division have made him one of boxing’s most bankable stars. Paul, 28, parlayed a social-media career into a professional boxing trajectory, building an audience with high-profile crossover fights and exhibition shows. The December bout is being billed as Paul’s toughest professional test to date and Joshua’s latest step in an unpredictable post-title phase of his career.
Where to watch: Netflix has confirmed it will stream the fight live globally; subscribers should look for event details on the Netflix homepage as the broadcast date approaches.
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