Matchroom CEO Frank Smith has refuted claims that the upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will be fixed.

Recent reports circulating online indicated that Joshua and Paul were finalizing arrangements for a showdown this Christmas. The heavyweight bout was officially confirmed on Monday afternoon to take place on December 19 in Miami, with the fight scheduled for eight three-minute rounds and both fighters wearing 10oz gloves.

The outcome of the match will be recorded on their professional records. Paul, who faced fixing allegations since his debut in 2020, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his fights. Despite this, criticism from the boxing community has labeled the fight between the 28-year-old and Joshua as ‘rigged.’

Addressing the concerns, Matchroom’s Frank Smith reassured the public, stating that the bout is a standard eight-round professional fight without any special conditions. The showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will be available for live streaming on Netflix, accessible for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle.

Smith emphasized Joshua’s intent to win decisively, dismissing notions of any predetermined outcome. The fight came about after Paul initiated the challenge earlier this year, eventually leading to Joshua accepting the offer. The Matchroom CEO reflected on the quick progress in finalizing the fight and expressed surprise at Paul’s decision to face Joshua, given the latter’s exceptional skills.

The match is scheduled for December 19 in Miami, just before Christmas, with an anticipated walk to the ring around 11pm local time, translating to 4am in the UK. The event’s live broadcast on Netflix is subject to potential timing adjustments based on the undercard duration and is tailored to suit the American audience.