The boxing world is on the cusp of arguably its most controversial and talked-about event in years: a professional heavyweight bout between social media sensation Jake Paul and former two-time unified world champion Anthony Joshua. Billed as "Judgment Day" by Paul's promotion company, the fight is scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025, in Miami, Florida, and has sparked intense debate over its legitimacy, safety, and commercial appeal. Fight Details and Rules The bout, sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission, is a fully professional contest, meaning the outcome will count towards both fighters' official records and a knockout is a legitimate possibility. Detail Specification Date Friday, December 19, 2025 Location Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida Streaming Exclusively on Netflix Rounds Eight 3-minute rounds Glove Weight 10 oz gloves (standard for heavyweight) Weight Stipulation Anthony Joshua cannot weigh more than 245 lbs (111 kg) at the weigh-in. Fighter Records and Context The experience gap between the two men is vast. Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is an Olympic gold medalist and a seasoned professional who has faced elite heavyweights like Wladimir Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk, and Daniel Dubois. His career has been defined by high-stakes world title fights. He enters this fight after a knockout loss to Dubois in September 2024 and a subsequent elbow surgery, having been out of the ring for over a year. Jake Paul (9-1* as per general knowledge, but sources cite a contested professional record of 12-1, 7 KOs) is a YouTuber-turned-boxer who has strategically built his career fighting a mixture of opponents, including former UFC stars and the aging Mike Tyson. He typically fights at cruiserweight and the Tyson bout was his only other heavyweight contest. He is coming off a controversial win against Tyson in November 2024.
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The Mismatch Debate and Stakes The fight has been met with significant criticism and concern from the boxing community. Former world champion Richie Woodhall described it as a "really dangerous contest," highlighting the potential for Paul to be seriously hurt by Joshua's power. The consensus among experts is that Joshua is a different class of opponent than anyone Paul has faced before, possessing a massive advantage in skill, experience, size, and sheer punching power. Despite the criticism, the fight is a massive commercial draw. Both fighters are reportedly set to earn a massive payday, with some reports suggesting an even split of a purse potentially worth over $184 million. For Paul, a win would silence doubters and provide a path to a world title fight, while a loss for Joshua could be a catastrophic blow to his legacy. Paul remains confident, outlining a strategy of movement and timing to exploit perceived weaknesses in Joshua's game, while Joshua has dismissed any notion of a fixed fight, aiming for a decisive knockout. The event promises to be one of the most-watched sporting events of the year, bringing a unique blend of combat sports and internet celebrity to a global Netflix audience. These boxing guides outline the professional rules, stipulations, and career records of Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua:
Anthony Joshua
