In a crossover event that has captivated and divided the sporting world, YouTube sensation turned professional boxer Jake Paul will face Britain's former two-time heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua. The bout, set for Friday 19 December 2025 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, marks a dramatic return for Joshua after a 14-month absence and represents the most formidable challenge of Paul's five-year boxing career.
UK Fight Time and How to Watch on Netflix
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the event's timing is a late-night affair due to the time difference. The main card is scheduled to begin around 8pm local time in Miami (1am GMT on Saturday 20 December). The highly anticipated ringwalks for Paul and Joshua are expected at approximately 10.30pm local time (3.30am GMT). The contest itself will be contested over eight three-minute rounds.
In a landmark move for sports broadcasting, the entire event will be streamed live globally on Netflix. No additional pay-per-view fee is required; access is included with a standard subscription to the streaming service.
Undercard and Fighter Comparisons
The event features a stacked undercard with multiple world title fights. Highlights include Alycia Baumgardner v Leila Beaudoin for the unified super-featherweight championship and a cruiserweight clash between MMA legends Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Preliminary bouts, starting from 9.45pm UK time, feature talents like Caroline Dubois and Cherneka Johnson.
The physical disparity between the headliners is significant. At the official weigh-in on 18 December, Anthony Joshua tipped the scales at 17st 5lbs (243.4lbs), while Jake Paul came in at 15st 6lbs (216lbs). This gives the British heavyweight a substantial 26.8lbs (almost two stone) weight advantage. Joshua is at his lightest since 2021, whereas Paul has only weighed above the cruiserweight limit once before, for his controversial fight with Mike Tyson.
Criticism, Odds, and Genuine Chance?
The match-up has faced significant backlash from purists within boxing. British heavyweight Tyson Fury publicly labelled Joshua a "classless loser" for accepting the fight, criticising him for facing a "YouTuber" after a knockout loss. Paul's own career, particularly the scrutiny around his win over an aged Mike Tyson, has also drawn scepticism.
Unsurprisingly, bookmakers heavily favour experience. At the time of writing, odds give Jake Paul roughly a 10% chance of victory, with Anthony Joshua an 88.9% favourite and a draw at 2.8%.
However, Paul has been preparing meticulously, sparring with former world champion Lawrence Okolie. Okolie admitted to Sky Sports News that Paul's skills surprised him, stating, "If he boxes how he sparred, he's got a good chance of looking really good." Both fighters appeared confident at the weigh-in, with Joshua promising to "outclass" Paul, who in return claimed to smell fear in his opponent's eyes.
Regardless of the pre-fight narrative, the event promises to be a global spectacle, blending the worlds of social media influence and elite athletic competition in a way that continues to redefine modern sports entertainment.
