Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will face YouTube star Jake Paul in a professional fight in Miami next month, with both men expected to share a reported $184m purse.
Matchroom Boxing announced on Monday that the 36-year-old will meet the YouTuber-turned-boxer at the Kaseya Centre. The bout is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds and marks a major payday for both fighters, with reports indicating the massive prize pot will be split evenly.
The fight serves as a replacement for Paul, who was initially set to face lightweight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition earlier this month before the match was cancelled. Paul, 28, defeated heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in Texas in November 2024, a contest that drew more than 60 million viewers on Netflix.
Joshua, meanwhile, has not entered the ring since his stoppage loss to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September in their IBF title clash.
The match-up has generated controversy, with critics questioning why a former two-time unified heavyweight champion would take on an opponent with Paul’s limited résumé. However, the enormous financial reward offers clear motivation for the British-Nigerian star. Paul’s 12-1 record over the past five years includes wins over journeymen and ageing veterans, with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury.
Despite the criticism surrounding the fight, influential boxing figure Turki Alalshikh has hinted at major plans for Joshua beyond the Paul bout.
Speaking on DAZN’s broadcast ahead of the Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr. fight on November 15, Alalshikh outlined ambitious plans for 2026.
“I am talking now with Eddie. Next year, we have two big events here in London. It will be a surprise. We will have Anthony Joshua in our country in February, then the big fight — one of the greatest fights in boxing history — here in London, maybe in September,” he said.
When asked if this could finally be Joshua vs Tyson Fury, Alalshikh replied, “I will not give you the answer. But in April, maybe at Tottenham, we will have big fights. Then in September, me and Eddie Hearn will deliver a big surprise for fans in England.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, expressed confidence about making the long-awaited Fury fight a reality.
“Listen, we have all been excited about that fight for many years. I believe Turki is the man to make it happen. Everything we do with Anthony Joshua, we do with Turki Alalshikh,” Hearn said.
“We have been sitting down this week. We have many plans for Anthony Joshua’s future. He wants to regain the world heavyweight championship; he wants to fight Tyson Fury.”
However, should Joshua suffer an upset loss to Paul, the long-anticipated Fury showdown could collapse entirely, raising the stakes for the December clash in Miami.
