Plenty have long been critical of Jake Paul’s boxing career, but not Anthony Joshua.
The YouTuber-turned-pugilist is set to face the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion in a short-notice boxing match on December 19 in Miami.
Paul’s clash with Joshua came together after the American’s planned fight with Gervonta Davis on November 14 fell through amid fresh allegations of domestic abuse against the WBA lightweight champion.
‘The Problem Child’ has plenty of detractors who are licking their lips at the prospect of the polarizing 28-year-old being knocked out by one of the sport’s hardest hitters.
But unlike many in the boxing world, ‘AJ’ has not been among those taking aim at Paul’s attempt to make big moves in the ring.
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What chance do you give Jake Paul of beating Anthony Joshua?
Anthony Joshua defended Jake Paul against criticism of his boxing venture
After serving as a key figure in the rise of crossover boxing through his clashes with fellow YouTubers, Paul began to establish himself as a combat sports figure by building a record in boxing against past-their-prime MMA veterans.
Paul knocked out Tyron Woodley in December 2021, closing out a year in which he defeated the former UFC welterweight champion twice after a victory over Ben Askren.
While the brutal KO drew plenty of plaudits, a number of boxing traditionalists remained firmly against the ex-Disney star’s journey in the ring.
Joshua, however, saw things differently.
Four years before agreeing to be Paul’s next opponent, ‘AJ’ defended the American and insisted his venture would only be a good thing for the sport.
“[He’s] great for boxing. He’s trying, zero amateur experience, throwing himself in the deep end,” Joshua said during an interview with iFL TV.
“He’ll probably learn a lot more than a lot of fighters, throwing himself in the deep end, putting himself under pressure. Good luck to him,” he added.
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Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua boxing match rules
While Paul was set to face Davis in an exhibition contest, his upcoming match with Joshua will be a professional bout that appears on both men’s records.
Nakisa Bidarian, the Most Valuable Promotions co-founder and CEO, revealed that the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion will not be permitted to weigh more than 245 pounds.
The duration of the fight will be shorter than Paul’s victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. earlier this year, when he outpointed the Mexican across 10 rounds. The Cleveland native will fight Joshua for a maximum of eight three-minute rounds.
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua rules
Paul and Joshua will also wear 10-ounce gloves for their Miami showdown. ‘The Problem Child’ will hope to avoid the fate that befell Francis Ngannou when he battled ‘AJ’ in the same size gloves toward the start of 2025.