Anthony Joshua is stepping back into the ring but this time, the former world heavyweight champion will face an unlikely opponent.
Matchroom Boxing announced on Monday that the 36-year-old British star will fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional bout next month at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
The contest is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds, marking Joshua’s first fight since his stoppage loss to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024 during their IBF title clash.
The matchup comes as a short-notice replacement for Paul, 28, who was originally set to face lightweight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition earlier this month before the event fell apart.
Paul, whose boxing résumé includes a shock victory over Mike Tyson in Texas in November 2024, now shifts focus to his biggest test yet against the former unified heavyweight champion.
Joshua, meanwhile, enters the bout looking to rebuild momentum after a turbulent stretch in his career and Miami will offer a stage loud enough to carry whatever story he chooses to write next.
