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After Gervonta “Tank” Davis found himself in more trouble with the law, his exhibition fight with Jake Paul was canceled.
That turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions announced that he will now fight two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua next month.
The fight will take place on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami and will be a sanctioned heavyweight bout. It is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds with 10-ounce gloves.
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Boxer, actor and YouTuber Jake Paul gestures during his weigh-in before his heavyweight boxing match against Mike Tyson in Irving, Texas, on November 14, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
“A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime. When I beat Anthony Joshua, all doubts disappear and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title. To all my enemies, this is what they wanted,” Paul said in a statement. “To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday December 19, under the lights of Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch is passed and the British Goliath is put to sleep.”
This will be Joshua’s first fight since coming up short in an IBF title fight against Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024. He last held a title in August 2022.
“I took some time off and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a great opportunity for me,” Joshua said. “Whether you like it or not, I’m here to put up big numbers, have big fights and break all the records while staying calm, cool and collected. Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take advantage of these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the Internet with Jake Paul’s face.”
Anthony Joshua punches Francis Ngannou during a heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou on the Knockout Chaos boxing card at the Kingdom Arena on March 8, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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Paul was scheduled to fight Davis on November 14, but it was canceled after Davis was accused of assault and battery on his ex-girlfriend at a strip club where she worked. He was also accused of threatening to kill her twice in writing.
Following the fight’s cancellation, Paul trashed Davis as “a real walking piece of human trash.”
“Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The lack of professionalism, the strange requests, arriving hours late to filming. Plus the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits. If you support this man, you support the vilest sin a man can commit,” Paul wrote on his Instagram Stories.
“I didn’t want to give this woman abuser a platform to grow his fans and bank account. My company stands up for women. I’m so sorry to everyone involved. Mainly to the fighters on the card, to my team at MVP, and to my team who worked so hard preparing for this fight. Sacrificing time with my loved ones and children just to have this fool lose his unintelligent mind again. It’s terrifying that devilish men like this can rise to the top of culture and sports, even in positions of power.”
Jake Paul reacts after knocking out Andre August in the first round during Jake Paul v Andre August at Caribe Royale Orlando on December 15, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
This will be Paul’s second heavyweight fight, after making weight to face Mike Tyson last year. Paul won that fight by unanimous decision.
