British boxing star Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring on Friday night against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in one of the most unconventional heavyweight bouts in recent years.
The fight will be streamed live on Netflix at no extra cost to subscribers, marking a rare move away from traditional pay-per-view broadcasting. However, UK fans have been warned they could face a fine of up to £1,000 if they watch the bout live without a valid TV licence.
Under UK law, a TV licence is required to watch or stream any live broadcast, including events shown on streaming platforms such as Netflix, regardless of the device used. Viewers who tune in live without a licence risk prosecution and a possible court appearance. The licence is not required for on-demand viewing after the live broadcast ends.
Joshua, 36, has not fought for 15 months and is returning after a stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois. He has promised an aggressive performance against Paul, who has lost just once in 13 professional fights and has never been knocked out.
The bout follows Jake Paul’s high-profile Netflix fight against Mike Tyson in November 2024, which drew more than 100 mln viewers worldwide, highlighting the platform’s growing role in live sports broadcasting.
