Pick it: Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua

When to Watch: Friday, December 19. The main broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (1 a.m. GMT).  A preliminary undercard will kick off at 4:45 p.m. ET (9:45 p.m. GMT). 

How to watch: The main Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua broadcast will stream on Netflix. The preliminary undercard is available on Netflix’s Tudum website and Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube Channel.

Why to Watch: This isn’t just a sideshow attracting curious eyes. This is more than a mere car crash causing passersby to rubberneck. No, this is either Thelma and Louise intentionally driving off the edge of the Grand Canyon – or this will be a mediocre rock climber somehow accomplishing the amazing feat Alex Honnold performed in Free Solo.

Jake Paul is either going to get beaten badly by Anthony Joshua. Or he is going to pull off a monumental upset.

Paul, 12-1 (7 KOs), came to pro boxing after building an immense following on social media. But he wasn’t just another influencer merely dabbling in fisticuffs. He has actual athletic ability and has truly dedicated himself to training, working to overcome his very late start and a lack of an amateur pedigree.

He also has lacked any truly legitimate opponents. While most prospects take on no-hopers, journeymen and gatekeepers during their development, it’s incredibly rare for a prospect to receive the kind of mainstream attention that Paul does. And when a fighter brags about how great they are without yet having come anywhere near close to proving it, they will be the deserving recipient of both doubt and ire.

Among those Paul beat in the early days were a retired basketball player and undersized and/or past-their-prime mixed martial artists. Then came a split decision loss to the marginally talented Tommy Fury in February 2023. It’s fair to say that Paul has improved since then. But since then, his level of opposition hasn’t gotten significantly better.

He beat another former MMA star, made short work of two actual boxers – Andre August and Ryan Bourland – though they were naturally smaller than him and were rather limited in skill and ability. But instead of subsequently stepping up against better cruiserweights, Paul announced a fight with the long-retired, ancient Mike Tyson.

When Tyson’s health issues postponed their match, Paul instead beat Mike Perry, an MMA fighter turned bare-knuckle boxer. Paul vs. Tyson wound up taking place in November 2024. In Paul’s sole fight as a heavyweight – until this Friday – he outpointed the 58-year-old Tyson on Netflix in front of the largest televised audience for a boxing match in the United States in a long, long time.

The sideshows continued this year. In June, Paul won a decision against Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr – a former middleweight titleholder, sure, but long past his prime and well beyond his best weight division. And in November, Paul was supposed to have an exhibition with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, a superb talent but, you know, a lightweight. 

The Davis event was canceled after he was sued by a former girlfriend accusing him of domestic violence. Paul, to his credit, called on Joshua to step in for the event, which was postponed to this month at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Paul is five inches shorter at 6-foot-1, is coming up from cruiserweight, and is far less experienced. He’s taking on a huge challenge, even though Joshua isn’t at his peak anymore either. 

Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), is a former unified heavyweight titleholder who held three of the four major sanctioning body belts during a pair of reigns.

The 6-foot-6 Londoner won the gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in front of his home crowd, which only primed him for potential superstardom. In April 2016, he made quick work of Charles Martin to capture the IBF title. A year later, Joshua had to get off the canvas to stop Wladimir Klitschko, adding the vacant WBA belt in front of a huge crowd at Wembley Stadium in what both Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America named their fight of the year. 

By March 2018, Joshua had unified with the WBO title as well, seizing it from Joseph Parker via unanimous decision. After stopping Alexander Povetkin later that year, Joseph seemed to be in a position where the next big goal would be an undisputed championship fight against the winner of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury. Alas, it wasn’t to be.

Joshua’s first fight of 2019 was supposed to be that June against Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller. When Miller tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Andy Ruiz substituted in. Joshua dropped Ruiz in the third round and got overconfident, leaving himself open for Ruiz to hurt him in return. Joshua was floored twice in the third and never truly recovered. After two more knockdowns in the seventh round, Joshua was done, the victim of a massive upset.

Joshua and Ruiz met in a rematch toward the end of the year. This time, Joshua came in with a cautiously tactical approach, while Ruiz came in 15lbs heavier. Ruiz’s additional poundage slowed him so much that Joshua was able to box from a distance, taking his three titles back through a wide decision on the scorecards. Joshua then spent a year on the sideline due in part due to the pandemic, then returned in December 2020 with a confidence-building ninth-round knockout of Kubrat Pulev.

Fury had taken the WBC title from Wilder in their rematch earlier in 2020. In 2021, Joshua and Fury agreed to meet in a massive August event. That, too, wasn’t to be. Wilder enforced his contractual right to a third fight. Instead, Joshua defended against Oleksandr Usyk that September and saw his second title reign come to an end. Usyk won a unanimous decision and then triumphed again via split decision 11 months later.

Joshua spent 2023 rebuilding through a decision win over Jermaine Franklin, a knockout of Robert Helenius and a TKO of Otto Wallin. At the start of 2024, Joshua succeeded where Fury had previously struggled – dominating MMA champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing match, knocking him cold in the second round.

That set up another title shot for Joshua, taking on Daniel Dubois in September 2024 for the IBF belt that Usyk had vacated. Dubois bounced Joshua off the canvas repeatedly. The end came in the fifth, when Joshua thought he had Dubois badly hurt – shades of the first Ruiz fight – and left himself wide open for a perfectly placed shot.

Joshua hasn’t fought since. He had minor elbow surgery this May. But when Jake Paul’s exhibition with Gervonta “Tank” Davis was canceled, Joshua got the call. The 36-year-old is heavily favored, even with a contractual weight limit of 245lbs, about 7lbs lighter than what Joshua was against Ngannou and Dubois.

If Joshua wins, he’s expected to finally face Fury – who is returning from his latest so-called retirement – in a huge fight in 2026.

As for the undercard:

In the co-feature, former undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, 16-1 (7 KOs), will defend her IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Leila Beaudoin, 13-1 (2 KOs). Baumgardner recently vacated the WBC belt.

There will also be a boxing match between two former mixed martial artists with past losses to Paul: Anderson Silva, 3-2 (2 KOs) in the Sweet Science, and Tyron Woodley, 0-2, both of his defeats to Paul. And in the main broadcast’s opening bout, featherweight Jahmal Harvey – a 2024 Olympic quarterfinalist who is 1-0 (1 KO) in the pros – is due to take on Kevin Cervantes, 5-0 (5 KOs).

The preliminary undercard includes three title fights: Cherneka Johnson, 18-2 (8 KOs), who became the undisputed bantamweight champion in July, will defend her throne against Amanda Galle, 12-0-1 (1 KO). Yokasta Valle, 33-3 (10 KOs), the WBC’s titleholder at 105lbs, will defend against Yadira Bustillos, 11-1 (2 KOs); and WBC lightweight titlist Caroline Dubois, 11-0-1 (5 KOs), is in against Camilla Panatta, 8-2-1 (1 KO).

The prelims will also have the return of welterweight prospect Avious Griffin, 17-1 (16 KOs), from his first defeat; and the professional debut of light heavyweight Keno Marley, who competed in the Olympics in 2021 and 2024, losing to the eventual silver medalist at light heavyweight and then the gold medalist at heavyweight.

More Fights to Watch

Tuesday, December 16: Luan Medeiros vs. Hugo Macias (YouTube)

The broadcast begins at 6 p.m. Eastern Time (11 p.m. GMT) on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube channel.

This three-bout show at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach will also include the open workouts for Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua.

The card’s headline bout is a six-rounder featuring lightweights Luan Medeiros, 6-0 (4 KOs) and Hugo Macias, 7-1-1 (5 KOs). There will also be a six-round bantamweight bout pitting Shannon Courtenay, 9-3 (3 KOs), against Jessica Radtke Maltez, 2-2-2 (0 KOs). And in another six-rounder at 118lbs, Natalie Dove, 6-0-1 (2 KOs), faces Perla Lomeli, 7-6 (1 KO).

Wednesday, December 17: Giorgio Visioli vs. Joe Howarth (DAZN)

The broadcast begins at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. GMT).

The English lightweight title is on the line in this match between Visioli and Howarth at the Indigo at The O2 in London, England.

Visioli, a 22-year-old from Aldershot, is 9-0 (6 KOs). This is his fifth fight of 2025. In October, he scored an eight-round shutout against the 13-3 James Wilkins.

Howarth, a 23-year-old from Wigan, is 14-1 (4 KOs). His loss came in a narrow referee’s decision in 2023 against Josh Sandford, who was 4-0 at the time and is now 8-2-1. Since then, Howarth has won seven in a row, including three fights in 2025. Most recently, he outpointed a 9-59-1 opponent in October.

The undercard includes 6-foot-6 cruiserweight prospect John Hedges, 11-0 (3 KOs), against Ellis Zorro, 18-3 (7 KOs), as well as the ongoing early development of teenage junior featherweight Adam Maca, 3-0 (3 KOs).

Thursday, December 18: Ramon Cardenas vs. Erik Robles (ProBox TV)

The broadcast begins at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (midnight GMT).

Cardenas, 26-2 (14 KOs), is back for the first time since his epically entertaining and competitive loss to junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue in early May. Cardenas put Naoya Inoue on the canvas in the second round and continued to battle it out with “The Monster,” only for Inoue to take over, drop Cardenas in the seventh and stop him in the eighth. Cardenas is ranked second by the WBA at 122lbs and fifth by the WBC.

The unranked Robles, 16-3 (10 KOs), has dropped two of his last three. He was dispatched midway through the second round by Liam Davies in March 2024, scored a two-round win of his own against the 15-5-3 Misael Gracia Acevedo last November, and was outpointed by the 22-2 Jesus Eduardo Arechiga Valdez this past March.

They’ll main event at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On the undercard is a middleweight bout featuring Hebert Conceicao, 9-0 (5 KOs), who won an Olympic gold medal in 2021, and Elias Espadas, 23-7-1 (16 KOs), who is coming off a technical decision loss to junior middleweight prospect Callum Walsh. Also on this show: a junior welterweight fight between Mykquan Williams, 22-1-2 (11 KOs), and Jair Valtierra, 18-3 (9 KOs), and a clash of middleweights Yojanier Martinez, 5-0-1 (2 KOs), and Joeshon James, 9-1-2 (5 KOs).

(Note: BoxingScene and ProBox TV are both owned by Garry Jonas.)

Saturday, December 20: Craig Richards vs. Dan Azeez (DAZN)

The broadcast begins at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. GMT).

Richards and Azeez are light heavyweights from London, England, headlining at the Legon Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana.

Richards, 35, is 19-4-1 (12 KOs), and has gone 3-3 in his last six outings. He lost a decision to Dmitry Bivol in 2021, then stopped the 20-2-2 Marek Matyja in six rounds. He lost a decision to Joshua Buatsi in 2022, then stopped the 12-4 Boris Crighton more than 20 months later in 2024. And he lost a decision to Willy Hutchinson in 2024, then knocked out the 19-1 Padraig McCrory this past March.

Azeez, 36, is 22-2-1 (14 KOs) and is 2-2-1 in his last five bouts. He lost a decision to Buatsi in early 2024, fought to an eight-round draw with the 12-2 Hrvoje Sep, dropped a narrow majority decision to prospect Lewis Edmondson, and has rebounded with a pair of victories over opponents with records of 4-28-4 and 11-2.

Among the prospects on the undercard are heavyweight Leo Atang, 2-0 (2 KOs), and welterweight Nishant Dev, 4-0 (2 KOs).

Saturday, December 20: Olivia Curry vs. Kaye Scott II (DAZN)

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (1 a.m. GMT).

This title fight rematch between middleweight contenders Curry and Scott is the main event at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. Their first fight was an entertaining draw in September. Neither woman was able to take home the vacant WBA and WBC titles that night. Both belts will again be on the line.

Curry, 7-2-2 (2 KOs), is a 36-year-old from Chicago. Scott, 4-1-1 (0 KOs), is a 41-year-old from Sydney, Australia.

For both women, this is another shot at glory after recent disappointments. Curry lost a unanimous decision to Shadasia Green at super middleweight in 2023; Green has gone on to become a unified titleholder at 168lbs. Scott, meanwhile, lost a unanimous decision to Desley Robinson last December in a bout for the vacant IBF belt at 160lbs.

Also scheduled for this card is Detroit resident Tony Harrison, 30-4-1 (21 KOs). The former junior middleweight titleholder spent 28 months out of the ring following a March 2023 TKO loss to Tim Tszyu and returned this July, visiting the canvas in the ninth round but leaving with a points win over the 15-6 Edward Ulloa Diaz. Harrison will face Brian Damian Chaves, 15-7 (6 KOs), in a 10-round middleweight bout. And heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor, 9-0 (6 KOs), will step in with Michael Coffie, 13-5 (10 KOs), in an eight-rounder.

Saturday, December 20: WBC Grand Prix Finals (DAZN)

The broadcast begins at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (3 p.m. GMT).

The tournaments wrap up in Riyadh with four finales – one apiece at 126lbs, 140, 160 and heavyweight.

At featherweight, Muhamet Qamili of Italy/Albania, 17-0-1 (8 KOs), takes on Brandon Mejia of Mexico, 12-0 (10 KOs). 

At junior welterweight, Carlos Utria of Colombia, 13-0 (11 KOs), meets up with Mujibillo Tursunov of Uzbekistan, 9-0 (2 KOs).

At middleweight, Dylan Biggs of Australia, 17-1 (9 KOs), steps in against Derek Pomerleau of Canada, 15-0 (11 KOs). 

And at heavyweight, Kevin Ramirez of Argentina, 11-0-2 (4 KOs), faces Ahmed Krnjic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7-0 (4 KOs).

Saturday, December 20: Argi Cortes vs. Yahir Frank (ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes)

The broadcast begins at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (2 a.m. GMT).

These two junior bantamweights will main event in Tijuana, Mexico.

Cortes, 28-4-2, is a 31-year-old from Mexico City. He lost a competitive decision to Juan Francisco Estrada in 2022, was widely outpointed in a title fight against Junto Nakatani in 2023, and is on a three-bout winning streak.

Frank, 17-1 (12 KOs), is a 23-year-old from Hermosillo. He is returning from a 14-month layoff after dropping a unanimous decision to the 16-2-1 Jayr Raquinel.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.