Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will close out a year of dramatic changes in boxing on Friday night in Miami, in a matchup that highlights how the sport has evolved—where online fame now rivals punching power.

YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, moving up from cruiserweight, faces the former heavyweight champion Joshua, who is looking to restore his reputation after a September 2024 IBF title loss to Daniel Dubois, in which he was knocked down four times.

“You know, it’s boxing—boxing skill, boxing on the outside. He’s obviously going to come forward, bring the pressure, be the bigger man. And it’s just about being slick, floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee,” Paul said, invoking the legendary Muhammad Ali.

While Ali occasionally dabbled in unconventional bouts—most famously his mixed-rules fight against professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976—he would barely recognize today’s boxing landscape, even if money remains the prime motivator.

Joshua, whose career suffered a steep decline after losing all four of his heavyweight belts to Andy Ruiz in a shocking 2019 upset, is reportedly guaranteed $50 million plus bonuses for the fight, which will stream on Netflix.

The platform is set to draw both hardcore boxing fans eager to gauge Joshua’s current form and younger audiences attracted by Paul’s online celebrity. “I heard people say, ‘Oh, I’m not really into boxing, but I’m watching this fight,’” Joshua said at a press conference on Wednesday. “But no one’s really coming up to me about Jake, or telling me to knock him out. Just positive vibes.”

A Bizarre Path to the Ring

Paul’s unconventional boxing journey has included victories over former basketball player Nate Robinson, retired MMA fighters Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva, and even a surreal encounter with 57-year-old Mike Tyson.

Yet Joshua’s former opponents, including Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin—who retired on his stool against Joshua in Riyadh two years ago—warn that Paul could be in serious danger in the ring.

“When you’re in that ring, it’s a dangerous place to be, and anything can happen,” Joshua said. “You hope your opponent leaves safely, but if they don’t, you still go to bed knowing you’ve done your job.”

Despite the risks, Paul remains confident he belongs in the ring with a fighter far ahead of him in skill and legacy. “I believe he’s locked in and knows this could be the biggest loss of his career, with so much to lose,” Paul said.