Paul v Joshua – all you need to know

Jake Paul attempts the impossible when he steps in the ring with two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua on Friday in Miami.

Joshua is a huge favourite against the YouTuber turned professional boxer and is expected to stop Paul within a few rounds.

Netflix once again enter the boxing world with Paul at the helm of a huge event, while Joshua returns from a year out of action.

Can Paul pull off the upset of the century? Or will Joshua bring an end to the Paul era of boxing?

Live text commentary will begin from 03:00 GMT on Saturday, 20 December on the BBC Sport website and app, covering all the build-up to the main event.

The first fight on the card is expected to begin at 21:45 on Friday, 19 December.

Caroline Dubois defends her world title on the preliminary card before the main card kicks off at 01:00 on Saturday, 20 December.

Paul v Joshua main card from 01:00 GMT 20 December

Paul v Joshua preliminary card from 21:45pm GMT 19 December

Despite concerns about safety, this will be a professional fight. It is being sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission.

Joshua will fight Paul in three, eight-minute rounds. The bout will be contested at heavyweight and each man will wear 10oz gloves, the normal size for a heavyweight fight.

Team Paul and Joshua say knockouts are permitted, BBC Sport has reached out to the Florida Athletic Commission to confirm.

The only reported stipulation is with the weight. Joshua is a natural heavyweight, while Paul has fought most of his career a cruiserweight.

Tuesday

Open workouts from 23:00 (18:00 local time) at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Shannon Courtenay will take on Jessica Maltez in a six-round bantamweight bout as part of event.

Wednesday

News conference from 23:00 (18:00 local time) at Fillmore Miami Beach.

Thursday

Weigh-in from 23:00 (18:00 local time) at Fillmore Miami Beach.

Joshua and Paul’s records are as far away as you could imagine.

Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion and has been in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk (x2), Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Dillian Whyte and Andy Ruiz Jr.

The 36-year-old’s four defeats came against Ruiz, Dubois and Usyk. He has a formidable knockout record too, with 25 stoppages in 28 wins.

Paul swapped pranks on YouTube for the boxing ring in 2018 before beginning to take the sport seriously, turning pro in 2020. He spent the majority of his early fights taking on ageing UFC fighters before in 2023 he suffered his only loss to Tommy Fury.

The 28-year-old has won his last six fights, including a drab eight-round contest with 58-year Mike Tyson.

His biggest win to date is over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who was deported by US Immigration and arrested in Mexico for links to the Sinaloa cartel soon after their contest.

Wins for Paul include over UFC fighter turned bare-knuckle boxing star Mike Perry and former UFC stars Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.

Joshua has fought in 13 world title fights, Paul is yet to compete at an elite level.

As well as experience and pedigree, there is also a significant height and reach gap.

Joshua stands at 6ft 6in with a 82in reach, while Paul is 6ft 1in with a 76in reach.