Confirmed: Anthony Joshua to face Jake Paul in December

Anthony Joshua is stepping back into the spotlight and he says he plans to break the internet and Jake Paul’s face when they meet in Miami on December 19, 2025.

The former two-time heavyweight champion confirmed the fight on Monday. The bout, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, will stream globally on Netflix.

Joshua, now 36, has been out of the ring for more than a year after his fifth-round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. He also spent time recovering from an arm injury while discussing his long-term future with promoter Eddie Hearn.

“I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show,” Joshua said. “It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected. Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”

Anthony Joshua is one of Britain’s biggest sports names. He rose to fame after winning Olympic gold in 2012, later headlining stadium shows and fighting top contenders such as Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Andy Ruiz, Dillian Whyte and Kubrat Pulev. But he also suffered back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, missing out on a long-anticipated unification bout with Deontay Wilder and a still-unmade showdown with Tyson Fury.

Jake Paul, 28, brings massive online reach to the event. He has over 28 million Instagram followers, while Joshua has 16.3 million. Paul has called the matchup “Judgment Day” and vowed to “put to sleep” the former champion.

Hearn confirmed the fight will use Queensberry rules, 10-ounce gloves, and will be recorded as a full professional contest not an exhibition.

Financially, the fight is expected to be huge. Industry insiders say both men could earn tens of millions, making it one of Joshua’s biggest paydays and the most high-profile fight of Paul’s career.

On Instagram, Joshua summed up Paul in a short line: “He’s loco mhen!”