TLDR
- Jake Paul is finalizing a fight with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua for December after his bout with Gervonta Davis was cancelled
- UFC president Dana White called the matchup a “bad idea” at the UFC 322 press conference on November 15
- White admitted he will watch the fight and suggested Paul will get knocked out
- Paul has a 12-1 boxing record but has never faced an elite heavyweight boxer
- Joshua recently lost by knockout to Daniel Dubois but previously stopped Francis Ngannou
Jake Paul is moving forward with plans to fight former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua before the end of 2025. The bout emerged after Paul’s scheduled fight with Gervonta Davis was cancelled due to a domestic violence lawsuit filed against Davis in late October.
Paul’s team reached out to several top boxing names to fill the vacant spot on a Netflix fight card. On November 12, reports surfaced that Paul and Joshua were finalizing an agreement for a December fight. The potential dates are December 12 or December 19, with Netflix expected to broadcast the event.
The matchup has drawn skepticism from UFC president Dana White. At the UFC 322 post-fight press conference on November 15, White was asked about the potential fight. His response was immediate and blunt.
“Oh Jesus,” White said. “That’s a bad idea. That’s a bad idea.”
Dana White shared his thoughts on Jake Paul fighting Anthony Joshua next:
“That’s a f*cking bad idea… Everybody’s gonna get what they've finally been waiting for.” 😬 pic.twitter.com/vqdhbsikYv
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) November 16, 2025
Despite his concerns about the fight, White acknowledged the massive public interest it would generate. He confirmed he would watch the event himself.
“Let me tell you what, a lot of people will watch that one,” White said. “Sure I will watch. You know what everybody’s tuning in for on that one. I think everybody’s going to get what they’ve finally been waiting for.”
White’s comments suggest he expects Joshua to defeat Paul convincingly. The UFC president and Paul have feuded for years, exchanging criticism publicly on multiple occasions. Their conflict began three years ago when Paul released a diss track targeting White.
The Size Difference
Paul faces a major physical challenge against Joshua. The British heavyweight stands approximately one foot taller and weighs about 100 pounds more than Davis, Paul’s original opponent. Paul has been preparing for a much smaller fighter.
This represents a drastic change in game plan with limited time to adjust. Paul last fought in June against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, winning by decision. His only previous heavyweight bout came against 58-year-old Mike Tyson, which went the full distance.
Paul’s Boxing Record
Paul holds a professional record of 12 wins and one loss. His sole defeat came via split decision against Tommy Fury. Most of his opponents have been MMA fighters transitioning to boxing or boxers with limited competitive records.
Paul has never faced an established elite heavyweight boxer. Joshua brings decades of experience at the highest level of the sport. He is a former unified heavyweight champion with victories over top-ranked opponents.
Love or hate him you got to accept that Jake Paul takes the biggest risks 🤷♂️
Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis (195lb limit for Jake) gets cancelled last minute
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua gets announced as the replacement (Jake will be 220+)
Insane. #JakeJoshua pic.twitter.com/afiUZF22ON
— cartii (@c6rtii_) November 17, 2025
Joshua’s Recent Form
Joshua suffered a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. That defeat marked his most recent appearance in the ring. However, just months before that loss, Joshua delivered a devastating knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Ngannou’s second professional boxing match.
The contrast in those results has led many boxing analysts to view a potential Paul fight as extremely one-sided. Joshua remains one of the most experienced heavyweights in boxing despite his recent setback.
White revealed earlier this year that despite their public feud, he does not actually hate Paul. He acknowledged Paul’s promotional skills while criticizing his tendency to file lawsuits against critics. The fight between Paul and Joshua has not been officially confirmed, but Paul continues to push the idea publicly and Joshua has not dismissed the possibility.
