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After Gervonta “Tank” Davis got into more trouble with the law, his exhibition match with Jake Paul was canceled.
It 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 bout 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 ahead of 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 haters, this is what you wanted,” Paul said in a statement. “To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. Friday 19th December, under the lights of Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch will be passed and Britain’s Goliath will be 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 out and I’ll come back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me,” Joshua said. “Whether you like it or not, I’m here to put up massive numbers, have big fights and break all records while staying cool, calm and collected. Mark my words, you’re going to see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”
Anthony Joshua beats 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 supposed to fight Davis on November 14, but it was canceled after Davis was accused of assault and battery against his ex-girlfriend at a strip club where she worked. He was also accused of twice threatening to kill her in writing.
After the fight’s cancellation, Paul trashed Davis as “an actual walking human piece of garbage.”
“Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, showing up hours late to shoots. To the countless arrests and related charges and lawsuits. If you support this man, you are supporting the most heinous sin a man can commit,” Paul wrote on his Instagram Stories.
“I didn’t want to give this misogynist a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account. My company is a champion of women. I’m so sorry to everyone involved. Mostly to the undercard fighters, to my team at MVP and to my team that worked so hard to prepare for this fight. Sacrificing time with loved ones and children, just for this fool to lose his mind again, that it’s like losing his unintelligent mind again. to the top of culture and sport, including 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, having put on pounds to face Mike Tyson last year. Paul won that fight by unanimous decision.
