Month: November 2025

YouTuber-turned-boxe Jake Paul will step into the ring against former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Dec. 19 at Miami’s Kaseya Center. The bout — a sanctioned, eight-round heavyweight fight with standard 10-ounce gloves — replaces Paul’s canceled Nov. 14 exhibition with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, which fell apart after Davis was accused of domestic violence in a civil lawsuit.

Netflix confirmed the matchup, posting: “Yes, it’s real. JAKE PAUL vs. ANTHONY JOSHUA. A career-defining pro heavyweight fight. LIVE only on Netflix Friday, December 19. #JakeJoshua”

Talks between Paul and Joshua initially focused on a potential 2026 showdown, but negotiations accelerated once Paul’s Davis fight collapsed. The new matchup marks an extraordinary jump in weight and class for Paul, who has primarily competed at cruiserweight and only recently fought as a heavyweight in his exhibition against Mike Tyson. Paul enters with a 12-1 record and wins over two former world champions, while Joshua brings a 28-4 record and one of the most accomplished heavyweight résumés of the past decade.

For Joshua, 36, the December date comes as he eyes a February return in Saudi Arabia and potentially a long-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury if he wins early next year. Joshua has not fought since being stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024, a loss that halted a four-fight winning streak. He has since undergone elbow surgery and trained without a full-time coach, working with several teams across Europe.

Paul, meanwhile, has boxed only 70 professional rounds and has never faced a heavyweight anywhere near Joshua’s level. Paul framed the bout as the moment he proves he belongs among boxing’s elite: “This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day. A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime… On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep. I KNOWWWW YOU GOT EM PICKED HAHAHHA”

Joshua added: “Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy.  took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me… Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”

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The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday that guard Ja Morant will be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks after suffering a right calf strain in Saturday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Morant left midway through the first quarter after reporting calf soreness and did not return. Further evaluation confirmed a Grade 1 strain, and he is set to be re-examined in “approximately two weeks.”

The injury comes during an already turbulent season for the two-time All-Star, who was suspended one game on Nov. 2 for what the team described as “conduct detrimental to the team.” According to reports, that suspension stemmed from an exchange with head coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, during which Morant’s response to a challenge about his leadership and effort was deemed inappropriate.

Morant has since appeared in six of seven games after the suspension, averaging 17.9 points, 7.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1 steal while posting career-low shooting percentages — 35.9% from the field and 16.7% from three. His scoring output is his lowest since his rookie year and well below his career average of 22.4 points per game.

Morant scored seven points in six minutes before exiting Saturday’s game, which marked his return after missing Wednesday’s game in Boston with a sore ankle. The Grizzlies has already been dealing with significant injuries: Ty Jerome remains out with a high-grade calf strain, Scotty Pippen Jr. is sidelined with a toe injury, and Brandon Clarke continues recovering from knee surgery. Center Zach Edey only just returned in the Cleveland game.

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New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd is in critical but stable condition after being shot early Sunday morning in midtown Manhattan, according to multiple reports. Police told ESPN that Boyd suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was taken to Bellevue Hospital.

Boyd was allegedly shot in the abdomen following an altercation outside Sei Less, a restaurant on West 38th Street near Seventh Avenue, shortly after 2 a.m. ET, according to police accounts (per The New York Post). Investigators are still working to determine what led to the incident, and no arrests have been made. Authorities report that they are searching for a man who drove away in a blue BMW. Police have not established any connection between Boyd and the suspected shooter.

NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo noted that the Jets are aware of the incident but are offering no additional comment at this time.

Boyd, who joined New York on a one-year contract this offseason after two years with the Houston Texans, has been on injured reserve since August because of a shoulder injury. A seventh-round pick of the Vikings in 2019, Boyd, 29, has also spent time with the Cardinals and the Texans.

Teammate Jermaine Johnson II posted a message on social media which read: “Everybody please send prayers to my brother and teammate Kris Boyd and his family!!! Lord please hold your healing hand over Kris and guide him back to health and safety. Lord I ask that you please just get him through this safely. In your name, Amen”

The Jets were idle this weekend after their Thursday night loss to the New England Patriots.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers after sustaining a knee injury in the third quarter. He was replaced by backup QB Kirk Cousins.

Penix was hit on a third-down incompletion when he took an awkward hit to his left knee by Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig after releasing a pass. He initially attempted to walk off the field but then sat down and was attended to by medical staff; afterwards the QB walked to the medical tent under his own power, but was later seen sitting on the bench without his helmet.

At the time of the injury, the Falcons were leading 21-16, and Penix had been playing efficiently, completing 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards with no interceptions.  The Falcons went on to fall 30-27 to the Panthers in an overtime loss.

The injury was to Penix’s his left knee – the same one he previously had injured earlier in the season. Penix had suffered a bone bruise to the left knee in a Week 7 loss this season, which caused him to miss the Week 8 game against the Miami Dolphins.

In addition to Penix, wide receiver Drake London suffered a knee injury late in the game and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Penix had seven catches for 119 yards before exiting. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris did not have an update on neither Penix nor London’s status after the game.

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