In a surprising turn of events, YouTube sensation turned boxer Jake Paul is set for his most formidable challenge yet: a professional bout against former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. The fight is scheduled for December 19 in Miami, marking a monumental step up in competition for Paul.
From Garcia to Joshua: The Shift in Opponents
However, Anthony Joshua was not Jake Paul's first-choice opponent. According to revelations from Paul's camp, the initial plan following the collapse of his scheduled fight with Gervonta Davis was to face outspoken star Ryan Garcia. Paul's business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, confirmed that Garcia was the "probably No.1" choice for a quick turnaround fight.
Bidarian elaborated on the shortlist of potential opponents, stating, "AJ was on that list, Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, Terence Crawford, Conor McGregor, Canelo Alvarez, Tommy Fury...". From a storytelling perspective, Garcia was seen as an ideal match due to his selling power and the existing "back and forth" between him and Paul.
Why The Ryan Garcia Fight Fell Through
The primary obstacle was broadcaster exclusivity. Both Garcia and Joshua are contracted to the streaming service DAZN. While the platform swiftly rejected the proposal for Garcia to fight on Netflix, they surprisingly gave the green light for Joshua to appear on the rival service.
Bidarian shared his theory on DAZN's contrasting decisions: "My assumption is they believe Jake could beat Ryan Garcia and that wouldn't have been great for an asset they have in Ryan Garcia. My assumption is they believe AJ is going to kill Jake Paul so they agreed to let it happen." This suggests that the streaming giant views Joshua as a much safer bet to defeat the social media star.
A Daunting Challenge for 'The Problem Child'
This bout represents a colossal leap in class for Jake Paul. He has built a modest 12-1 record largely by facing retired MMA fighters, and his most notable victory was a points decision over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. His sole professional fight against a fellow boxer, Tommy Fury, ended in a defeat two years ago.
The fight on December 19 will be a major test of Paul's legitimacy in the sport, pitting him against a two-time unified heavyweight champion in Anthony Joshua. The event will be broadcast globally on Netflix, a significant coup for the streaming service's foray into live sports.
