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Netflix’s Circus Maximus

The Jake Paul–Anthony Joshua fight may have bored the in-arena crowd, but it perfectly illustrated Netflix’s live-sports playbook, where ringside celebrity, global reach, and social media chatter far outweigh the competition itself.

Jake Paul Anthony Joshua heavyweight boxing fight
This, of course, was the Netflix idyll: the chance to own the culture for a night or two. In this scenario, the quality of the contest is a secondary concern. Photo: Ed Mulholland/Getty Images for Netflix
John Ourand
December 22, 2025

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On Friday night, the most anticipated boxing match of the year took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, and live on Netflix. The action in the ring, as influencer-turned-Make-a-Wish fighter Jake Paul did his best to evade former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, was mostly plodding and always one-sided. The Kaseya Center crowd booed several times in want of action. Joshua’s K.O. win mercifully put an end to the dull spectacle in the sixth. Paul received a twice-broken jaw for his efforts.