Jake Paul is taking on Anthony Joshua for a heavyweight fight after his planned match with Gervonta Davis was shelved. The Paul brother will now face AH on December 19, 2025, at Miami’s Kaseya Center. The rules for the match are set now, and fans are calling Paul’s clauses a major mistake.
Paul will box Joshua in a scheduled eight-rounder match, with each round lasting three minutes (via Ring Magazine). According to MVP’s press release, it was also revealed that the fight will be contested with 10oz gloves. The details regarding the undercard matches will be finalized in the coming weeks, but it has been confirmed that the Alycia Baumgardner vs Leila Beaudoin fight will remain the co-main event.
However, one rule that MVP has set for Joshua has caught the fans’ attention. CEO Nakisa Bidarian told Sky Sports that the boxer will have a weight restriction of 245 pounds. Joshua has weighed more than that in his previous five bouts. During his last match against Daniel Dubois in September 2024, Joshua weighed 252 1⁄2 pounds. Bidarian shared:
Joshua fought Usyk twice and both of those times Usyk was 221 pounds. Joshua was 240 to 245. When Jake fought Mike Tyson last year, he was 227 pounds. I expect Jake will come in anywhere between 225 and 230 pounds. Anthony Joshua has a weight limit of 245 pounds.
However, fans believed that it was a mismatch between Joshua and Paul, considering Paul’s lack of heavyweight experience. Many fans called the weight restriction an absolute joke in a heavyweight match. At 245 pounds, some fans believed that Joshua would get more in shape and gain more agility. Some fan reactions read:
Letting AJ come in overweight actually might have given you a better chance..you’re actually gonna make him get in shape too? Good god Jake 😭😭
😂😂😂😂😂😂 even more of a mockery 😂😂😂😂😂 a weight restriction for a heavyweight 😂😂😂😂😂
The weight restriction means it isn’t a professional HW fight 😴
The last time Anthony Joshua faced a "boxer"
pic.twitter.com/KBiBie8Wez
If this actually goes ahead, Jake be leaving the ring in a bag
The event’s tagline reads, Judgment Day, with Paul quoted saying, “This isn’t an AI simulation, this is judgment day… When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no-one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title.” Interestingly, Joshua has been signed to DAZN since 2022, while Paul has been aligned with Netflix since last year’s bout with Mike Tyson.
MVP Responds to Whether Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Bout Is a Mismatch
MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian responded to the criticisms about Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua being a mismatch during his interview with Sky Sports. He shared, “I would say it’s much less of a mismatch than what you saw with AJ and Francis Ngannou, who was a massive man but had relatively no boxing experience.”
He further shared, “I would say it’s much less of a mismatch than AJ’s ninth or 10th fight against guys who’ve been knocked out 20 to 25 times. Given AJ’s pedigree, Jake is built for this.” While Bidarian admitted that it was a dangerous match for Paul, he also claimed that it was dangerous for Joshua. He shared that Paul was built for such big moments. He shared:
Jake is built for the big moments. Do I think it’s dangerous for Jake Paul? Absolutely. Do I think it’s also dangerous for Anthony Joshua? 100 per cent.
Bidarian further talked about Paul’s preparation for the fight against Joshua. He shared, “Here, he was looking to lose weight to 195 pounds to fight Gervonta Davis. Now, on six weeks’ notice, he’s going to have to get up to heavyweight but it’s something he’s used to doing.” He shared that it was common for cruiserweights to step up to heavyweight competition.
What Happened to the Planned Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis Fight?
Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis fight on Netflix was called off after Davis got entangled in a major scandal. Ahead of the fight set for November 14, a string of accusations has been launched against Davis by his ex-girlfriend. The accusations of domestic violence against Gervonta Davis came out in July when he was arrested in Miami over a battery charge (via The Sun).
He was accused by his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel. On October 27, new allegations emerged against the boxer, with his ex claiming that he had attacked her and made threats to kill her (via The Sun).
Rossel filed a civil lawsuit against the boxer on October 30, accusing him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress following an incident at a Miami-area nightclub. She claimed that Davis “physically assaulted and choked” her on at least four different occasions.
According to the lawsuit, she is seeking damages of over $50,000, including her therapeutic treatment to overcome the PTSD. The Sun also reported that Davis was previously accused of domestic violence by Vanessa Posso in 2023. Davis and Posso shared a daughter. He was arrested at the time.
What do you think of the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua bout? Let us know in the comments below!
