Anthony Joshua is on the verge of stepping into the ring for a fight that could define the remaining years of his career. The British star accepted a monumental affair with YouTuber Jake Paul for a huge payday on short notice, but a loss against the influencer could derail the significant plans he has set for himself going forward.
‘The Problem Child’ has often had to silence the critics throughout his years in combat sports, and most of the time, has been successful in doing so. On December 19, Paul will face his toughest task yet when he welcomes a true boxing powerhouse into the ring, and expectations for him are understandably low.
All eyes are positioned on Anthony Joshua’s display on Friday night. If he performs as expected, he will make short work of the courageous Jake Paul and move on as he prepares for a big 2026.
Joshua wants to reinstate himself as the face of British boxing once again. After years of staking his claim to the throne, the crown was snatched by Tyson Fury, whose return to boxing, trilogy with Deontay Wilder, and two razor-close affairs against Oleksandr Usyk earned him the edge as the UK’s premier boxer.
Boxing has been hit with constant criticism over the years for not giving the fans what they want. Many considered Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua to be the biggest matchup in UK boxing history, but time has passed and the intrigue for what could have been one for the ages has lost some of its magic.
Though, barring any mishap on either side, a recent development has revealed that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will settle their differences in the ring after years of rumors and broken promises.
Riyadh Season is set for another earth-shattering event. Not only will Fury finally meet Joshua to decide the face of UK boxing, but as is often the case with Turki Alalshikh, a must-watch undercard featuring some notable names will be unveiled in due time.
Even with it being delayed half of a decade, Fury vs. Joshua will still go down in history. The heavyweights lay claim to being the most famous British boxers of their generation, and the fanbase will likely be split once they collide in the squared circle.
While excitement is beginning to rise since the announcement, there is still a lot that needs to unfold for the all-English battle to take place.
According to reports, further hurdles lie in the two heavyweights way before they can lock horns. If Anthony Joshua fulfills expectations and handily beats Jake Paul, he will feature in another Riyadh Season event against an unnamed opponent next.
Like Joshua, Tyson Fury must also showcase himself on the big stage ahead of any potential bout with his long-term rival. If both come away with undeniable victories, the world will be rewarded with an all-timer British affair.
‼️ MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS ‼️
Sources have advised The Ring that a highly anticipated showdown between former heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will headline a Riyadh Season mega-event in 2026.
Before that collision happens, The Ring has also learned that Fury… pic.twitter.com/Iwgfs9NNLL
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) December 12, 2025
Related: Jake Paul calls predicts fight-ending round against Anthony Joshua
The plan seems set in stone for Riyadh Season 2026, but a loss to Jake Paul could disrupt the boxing timeline.
Despite giving up a sizeable height and experience advantage, Paul believes he has the power to finish Joshua — a man he believes is lacking the ability to absorb damage.
Following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk — which then made it three defeats from five — Joshua had somewhat of a resurgence. The heavy hitter would win four straight, with his most recent win coming in devastating fashion against UFC alum, Francis Ngannou.
Despite showing glimpses of old AJ, the 36-year-old was knocked out by fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in his last outing.
Anthony Joshua will now be hoping to put that defeat behind him and drive to the top of the heavyweight division in the latter stages of his career.
