Matchroom CEO Frank Smith refuted claims that the upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua would be fixed. Speculations surfaced online last week about the two fighters finalizing a deal to clash during the Christmas season, and on Monday, their heavyweight bout was officially confirmed to occur on December 19 in Miami. The fight is set for eight three-minute rounds, with both boxers wearing 10oz gloves.
The outcome of the match will impact their professional records. Despite accusations of fixing fights since his debut in 2020, Paul has denied any wrongdoing throughout his career. Criticism from the boxing community has labeled the fight between Paul and Joshua as ‘rigged.’
In response to the skepticism, Smith, Eddie Hearn’s associate, downplayed concerns just weeks before the anticipated showdown. He emphasized that it is a standard eight-round professional fight without any special conditions. The upcoming match between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul in Miami on December 19 will be streamed live on Netflix. Fans can access the fight for free by subscribing to Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, the lowest price offered by the brand for Sky TV.
Smith stated that Anthony Joshua is not entering the fight to hold back but to knock out Jake Paul, dismissing any fixed-fight notions. The idea for the fight emerged earlier this year when Paul expressed interest in facing Joshua, leading to the current agreement. Despite initial discussions and a canceled fight with Gervonta Davis, Paul continued to seek opponents, eventually landing on Joshua. Smith revealed that the match came together swiftly, highlighting Joshua’s willingness to take on the challenge. Although he expressed reservations about the matchup, Smith acknowledged Paul’s determination.
The anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, just before Christmas, is expected to commence around 11pm local time, translating to 4am in the UK. Fight timings cater to the American audience and may be adjusted based on the undercard duration. The event will be broadcast live on Netflix.