The highly anticipated Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis fight has fallen through, but an even more significant bout is emerging. Anthony Joshua, the two-time unified heavyweight champion, is reportedly finalizing his contract termination with Boxing Pole by year-end. Sources from Yahoo Sports and Ring Magazine indicate that a Paul vs. Joshua match is planned for December, with Netflix set to stream the event in Miami. The Paul-Davis fight scheduled for November 14 was canceled following new domestic violence allegations against Davis.
The upcoming fight between Paul and Joshua is expected to attract much more attention compared to the scrapped “Tank” exhibition. Critics had raised concerns over the weight disparity between Paul, who fights at cruiserweight, and the much lighter WBA lightweight champion Davis—a difference so considerable that Georgia’s Athletic and Entertainment Commission chair, Rick Thompson, refused to sanction the bout in Atlanta.
Jake Paul, with a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, and 7 knockouts, has risen as a leading figure in boxing through smart matchmaking, often taking on smaller, older opponents with well-known profiles. His notable victories include wins over Mike Tyson, former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and ex-UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, all past their prime. However, Paul cannot rely on such size or age advantages against Joshua.
Anthony Joshua, standing at 28-4 with 25 knockouts, holds significant advantages in size, experience, technique, and power. He has faced top-tier competition, including two bouts against Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion. Though Joshua’s prime years might be behind him, with an age of 36, he is still fit enough to compete at a high level and may consider retirement soon, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Paul is currently on a six-fight winning streak, with his latest victory being a unanimous decision against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Joshua also boasts four consecutive wins, including a surprising knockout of former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou, who himself was defeated by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Fan Take: This potential Paul vs. Joshua fight is a landmark event that could shake up the boxing world by pitting a social media-fueled star against a seasoned heavyweight champion. For fight fans, it’s an exciting clash of generations and styles, promising a fresh narrative that could help bridge traditional boxing with new-age entertainment, potentially broadening the sport’s audience.
