The Abrupt Fight of 2025: Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, and what does this fight mean for Jake Paul and his future in boxing?

By Mohnish Kripalani

Image from Yahoo Sports, 2025

December 19th 2025 - A date carved into the calendar of boxing fans around the world, a bout between 2 discrete opponents, some say it is a mismatch, while others speculate it could be “rigged”. In one corner is Anthony Joshua, the guy pictured on the right of the image, the 2 time unified heavyweight champion, a legend in the world of boxing who was once the ranked 5th best Pound-for-Pound boxer in the world back in 2018. In the other corner comes Jake Paul, the social media big shot turned prizefighter, one of the faces of the new “influencer era” of boxing. This isn’t just any fight, it is an artistic event, a multi-million dollar challenge which will stream on Netflix, December 19th 8 PM E.T. 

For Anthony Joshua, this fight will be a great way to prove that he is still able to box well-above the professional level, a win would silence Jake Paul, and expose the difference in level between influencer boxers and Championship contenders. There is no doubt that Joshua is the clear favourite, despite coming off a loss against Daniel Dubois, as you can see, Anthony Joshua on the right is much bigger than Jake Paul, showing their difference in weight and power. A loss could lead to retirement; however, a win for him could open doors to a long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury, which could be the fight that decides who the second greatest heavyweight boxer of this generation would be, as both former champions had lost to current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. 

For Jake Paul, this would be a statement fight. A win would silence critics and would prove that he is simply a whole level above all other influencer boxers, such as KSI or Tommy Fury, as he would finally fight a professional contender who is bigger than him and has been active, unlike his previous opponents, such as 58-year-old Mike Tyson. This fight would climb Paul up the rankings and could make him 2–3 wins away from a title shot. On the other hand, a loss which is expected would show that Jake Paul is unable to rise above the competition and fight genuine boxers that are his size and have been active, underlining the gap between influencer boxing and the top level of the sport. 

The Tale of the Tape - Power vs Age

On paper, Anthony Joshua is the favourite in nearly every aspect.

Experience - Joshua has been in the ring with numerous fighters including Oleksandr Usyk, and managed to last all 12 rounds in both bouts.

Power - Anthony Joshua’s power is legendary; his technical skills, coupled with his powerful right hand, make him a threat to any opponent during any stage of the fight.

Size & Strength - As a natural heavyweight, Joshua’s physical strength, combined with his Boxing IQ, is expected to be overwhelming for Jake Paul.

Jake Paul’s victory odds are narrow, built on a few key strengths.

Age - Paul is 7 years younger than Joshua and is expected to have much better physical fitness than him, as he is in his prime.

Pressure - Being the underdog, Paul has far less pressure as he is not expected to win; on the other hand, this is a must-win fight for Joshua in terms of his legacy and future in the sport.

The Verdict:

The world will be tuning in for this fight, with most fans rooting for Joshua, making Jake Paul the villain. Regardless of whether you love or hate Jake Paul, we must recognise his development in the sport, especially considering where he started from, which is not ideal as the “typical fighter” background. Though it is unlikely, a win for Paul would change the sport and would bring in more fans, as his participation in the top level of boxing would lure more fans interest. Regardless of the outcome, this Jake Paul fight definitely stands out from his other fights, as Joshua would be his toughest opponent so far in his career, and is a challenge that will define his boxing career and legacy.