Jake Paul has crossed the danger line.

In his previous fights, victory often felt like a game of hopscotch—manageable, calculated, almost playful. Now, the former YouTuber has stepped into Deathwish territory, a realm as reckless as Evel Knievel gearing up to launch himself across Snake River Canyon on a motorcycle.

Former multi-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 Kos) and his deadly fists will enter the boxing ring to detach Paul (12-1, 7 Kos) from consciousness on Friday Dec. 19, at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Netflix will stream the Most Valuable Promotions boxing card.

“It’s just such a great opportunity to get back in the ring with a great opportunity of getting back to business,” said Joshua.

Joshua, 36, is not an ageing Mike Tyson who was easily defeated by Paul a year ago.

“This is the biggest fight of my career yet,” said Paul at the press conference in Miami.

Give credit to Paul. He has expanded the boundaries of danger to entice fans around the world to watch the neo-Roman gladiator spectacle. Instead of lions or tigers he has brought England’s most impressive physical specimen who has specialized in knocking out pretenders and contenders alike.

Of the 32 men Joshua faced inside a boxing ring 25 departed unconscious. The last pretender was a former UFC heavyweight champion named Francis Ngannou. The MMA fighter was knocked out so brutally that he has not re-entered a prize ring again.

“Boxing is not such a fun sport. You can’t play boxing,” said Joshua.

Paul, 28, has made a career out of stretching the boundaries. First, he picked on former MMA fighters and bareknuckle champions and has slowly moved toward pro boxers. His only loss was a disputed defeat against Tommy Fury in England. Despite Paul knocking down Fury he was still tabbed with a loss. A rematch was sought but never given by Fury.

This past June, former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fought Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, mere miles from Disneyland. Paul had his way for several rounds hitting Chavez with jabs and rights and left hooks. But during the final three rounds Paul’s legs began to tire and Chavez began connecting with big blows on Paul’s face and body. After 10 rounds Paul was declared the victor, but he had been given a true test by an actual former champion who was 39 and relatively fit.

Joshua presents a far different obstacle. He is 6’6” in height and weighs roughly 252 pounds of muscle. He has an 82-inch reach compared to Paul’s 76-inch reach. That means whenever Paul intends to punch Joshua there is an extra six inches he has to compensate for if Joshua punches at the same time. That is the problem Paul needs to solve.

Speed and timing are usually the answer to solving the reach conundrum, but does Paul have either advantage?

Paul definitely had those advantages against all his former opponents. Joshua is very fast for his size and can afford to take chances with Paul. Paul cannot afford to take chances with Joshua. There is no margin for error. One big blow from Joshua could re-arrange Paul’s brain cells or jaw structure.

The more I think about it, the more dangerous this fight appears to me.

Two things in Paul’s favor are his chin and natural power in his right hand. The Cleveland native does take a punch very well. I witnessed that the first time I saw him in a boxing match five years ago in Los Angeles. He also packs wicked power. Those two weapons are what have allowed him to reach this point in his young career.

Also, Joshua does not have a great chin. He can be broken as evident against Andy Ruiz back in 2019 when he was stopped with a left hook. He was also knocked out more recently by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

The odds of Paul catching Joshua making a mistake or microscopic. Boxing is a sport of centimeters not feet. The slightest mistake could end in disaster. There are eight three-minute rounds to determine the victor.

“There are a lot of things we are working on, constantly improving,” said Paul in describing preparation to face Joshua. “He has two left feet.”

Underdogs have won before, throughout boxing history. When John L. Sullivan lost to Gentleman Jim Corbett back in 1892 or when Corbett lost to middleweight Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897, little guys have been beating bigger guys.

“People are talking about this fight, And that’s the whole point of boxing,” said Joshua.

It’s not impossible for Paul to win. Just unlikely.

“This is the biggest upset in sports that’s about to happen on Friday,” Paul said. “I feel super calm.”

Props to Jake Paul.

Women’s Boxing on Center Stage

Female pro boxers everywhere are rooting for Jake Paul.

Once again Most Valuable Promotions, the company started by Paul, Nakisa Bidarian and Amanda Serrano, are highlighting female prize fights on a major stage. Millions are expected to watch four female world champions display their skills in front of the world.

Alycia Baumgardner (16-1, 7 Kos) defends the WBA, WBO, IBF world titles against Canada’s Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 Kos) in a match set for 12 three-minute rounds. Baumgardner abandoned the WBC belt which does not allow 12 three-minute round fights. “I want to challenge myself,” said Baumgardner on why she chose to fight three-minute rounds instead of two-minute rounds. Beaudoin accepted the challenge too and seeks to make a reputation by defeating Baumgardner.

Three other title fights are included on this MVP card streamed by Netflix.

WBC minimumweight titlist Yokasta Valle (33-3, 10 Kos), the speedy fighter from Costa Rica, meets Las Vegas fighter Yadira Bustillos (11-1, 2 Kos) a fast-rising contender in a 10-round match. Can Bustillos, 25, keep up with Valle who is 33?

Cherneka Johnson (18-2, 8 Kos), the undisputed bantamweight champion, defends the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles against Amanda Galle (12-0-1). Johnson fights out of Australia and is very strong and rugged inside the boxing ring. Galle fights out of Canada and is undefeated.

Caroline Dubois (11-0-1, 5 kos) defends the WBC lightweight title against Italy’s Jessica Panatta (8-2-1) who fought most of her matches in Mexico. That can help or hurt her against Dubois who is an Olympic silver medalist for England and a furious fighter inside the boxing ring. It’s her first fight under the MVP banner.

All four world title fights will be shown on Netflix where millions will be watching, and probably close to 20,000 fans will be watching live inside the arena in Miami.

It’s going to be a special night.

 

Share The Sweet Science experience!