Nigerian-born British heavyweight Anthony Joshua is gearing up for a surprising return to the ring, as he prepares to face YouTube sensation Jake Paul in Miami next month.
The matchup was officially confirmed on Monday by Matchroom Boxing, promising one of the year’s most anticipated fights.
The bout is scheduled for eight rounds of three minutes each at the Kaseya Centre. Reports indicate that both fighters will share a massive $184 million purse, split evenly between them.
Paul stepped in for this fight after his planned exhibition against Gervonta Davis fell through earlier this month. The 28-year-old American gained widespread attention following his unusual victory over Mike Tyson in Texas last November, a bout that drew more than 60 million viewers on Netflix.
Joshua, 36, has not fought since suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in their IBF title clash at Wembley in September 2024. His decision to take on Paul has sparked curiosity and criticism, with fans questioning why a two-time heavyweight champion would face a fighter with relatively limited professional experience.
Paul holds a 12-1 record, with most victories coming against older or lesser-known opponents. His only loss came to Tommy Fury. Despite questions over Paul’s credentials, the enormous financial incentive reportedly played a key role in Joshua accepting the fight.
Behind the scenes, influential Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh has hinted at bigger plans for Joshua beyond the Miami showdown. Speaking on DAZN ahead of last month’s Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr fight, he teased several major events lined up for 2026.
“I am talking with Eddie [Hearn] now. Next year, we have two major events in London. It will be a surprise. Anthony Joshua will be in our country in February, and then later in September, one of the greatest fights in boxing history will take place here,” Alalshikh said.
When asked if the long-awaited Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight might finally happen, he replied, “I won’t give you the answer yet. But in April, maybe in Tottenham, we will have big fights, and in September, Eddie and I have a huge surprise for fans in England.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, expressed optimism about his client’s future. “We have all been excited about that fight for many years. Turki is the man to make it happen. Everything we do with Anthony, we do with Turki,” Hearn said.
“We have been planning a lot for Anthony Joshua. He wants to reclaim the world heavyweight championship and, of course, fight Tyson Fury.”
However, a potential showdown with Fury will hinge on Joshua’s performance in Miami. Any unexpected loss to Paul could derail the buildup and jeopardize one of boxing’s most eagerly awaited matchups.
