Virtually no one is expecting a competitive fight, but the combat sports world will turn its gaze to Miami on Friday, where Youtuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul will take on heavyweight star Anthony Joshua.
It’s a massive step up for Paul, who weighed in at 216lbs on Thursday, in more ways than one. Joshua, for his part, was contractually obligated to weigh in no more than 245lbs, and hit 243.4 in the end.
Mostly competing as a cruiserweight (the exception coming against a late-50s Mike Tyson in a much-maligned sideshow last year), Paul has primarily fought older, retired mixed martial artists he greatly outsized: Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (both welterweights), and Anderson Silva (a middleweight well into his 40s).
Against Tyson, he fought a boxing legend well past his prime, in Tommy Fury, one of the few actual, active boxers Paul has shared the ring with, he was out-classed. That, against a boxer with a badly padded record whose opponents offer a combined record of 36-177-5 as of December 2025.
Now, Jake Paul will face a legitimate heavyweight boxing champ with all the skill and power that comes with being a former WBA, IBO, IBF, and WBO heavyweight boxing champion. Aside from the weight differential and skill differential, Joshua has five inches in height on Paul, and while he’s eight years older, he’s a spring chicken compared to Paul’s usual opponents.
Paul vs. Joshua airs Friday, December 19 live on Netflix. The event takes place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
