Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua is really happening.
On Monday, Netflix announced “Yes, it’s real” in reference to the streaming giant’s latest boxing event that will be headlined by Paul vs. Joshua on Dec. 19 from Kaseya Center in Miami. Paul vs. Joshua was booked on the heels of Paul’s Nov. 14 exhibition bout with Gervonta Davis – which was also supposed to stream on Netflix – being canceled after news of a civil lawsuit against Davis surfaced in which he’s being accused of attacking a woman in a strip club.
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So here we are now with one of the unlikeliest fights in boxing history set to take place: A YouTuber-turned-boxer vs. a former heavyweight champ still at the top of his game.
What are the rules for Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua?
Given the sizeable difference between Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) and Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) both physically and in skill, the rules for this fight are of particular interest. Here’s what they will be:
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The fight is scheduled for eight, 3-minute rounds.
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It is a sanctioned professional bout, unlike the Davis exhibition.
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Paul and Joshua will wear 10-ounce gloves.
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The only stipulation is that Joshua cannot weigh more than 245 pounds
How Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua rules compare to standard heavyweight fights
Compared to what would be considered standard for professional heavyweight boxing rules, there are some differences with Paul vs. Joshua. While three-minute rounds remain standard, heavyweight fights typically are scheduled for 12 rounds. Ten-ounce gloves also isn’t uncommon for heavyweights, who usually wear either 10 or 12-ounce gloves. Paul fought Mike Tyson in November 2024 wearing 14-ounce gloves, which were used to be safer especially for then-58-year-old Tyson.
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The fact that Joshua has to weight 245 pounds or less goes against standard heavyweight guidelines, which place no limit on how much a heavyweight fighter can weigh above 200 pounds.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: What are the rules?
