Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Odds Look Wild and Experts Say Fight Could End Fast

Jake Paul is set to face former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a sanctioned eight-round fight on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, with 10-ounce gloves scheduled for the matchup. The bout marks Joshua’s return after his Sept. 21, 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in a fight for the IBF heavyweight championship. Paul enters with momentum of his own after a 10-round unanimous decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June.

Sportsbook odds and prediction markets have Joshua installed as a massive favorite. FanDuel lists Joshua at -1300, with Paul at +700, reflecting the sharp gap in experience and résumé. The total rounds line is set at 2.5, and markets have also priced early-stoppage outcomes, signaling expectations of a quick finish if Joshua imposes his power. The Netflix stream is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, with walkouts expected around 11 p.m. ET.

Much of the early conversation centers on whether Paul can survive Joshua’s pressure. Paul has multiple knockouts in recent outings, but this is widely viewed as his biggest leap in opposition. Joshua owns a 28-4 record with 25 knockouts, while Paul is listed at 12-1 with seven knockouts.

SportsLine combat sports editor Josh Nagel has pointed to a stoppage as the most likely result, making one of his top calls Joshua to win by TKO/KO at -475. Nagel’s reasoning focuses on Joshua’s proven finishing ability at the elite level and the steep difference in competition, suggesting Paul may struggle to handle Joshua’s power once the fight settles in.