AJ, 36, will be entering to the ring for the first time since his bout with Daniel Dubois, 28, in September 2024 to do battle with The Problem Child, also 28, on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
The fight - which will be streamed on Netflix - will consist of eight three-minute rounds.
In a statement, Joshua said: “I took some time out and I'm coming back with a mega show. It's a big opportunity for me.
“Whether you like it or not, I'm here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected.
“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.”
The former heavyweight champion will be coming down to under 245lbs for the fight, with both AJ and The Problem Child set to wear regulation 10-ounce gloves.
Paul said in a statement of his own: “This isn't an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day.
“When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no-one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title. To all my haters, this is what you wanted.”
Paul confirmed the first press conference for the bout will take place on November 21 at 1PM EST/10AM PST at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
The Problem Child also claimed he was being paid $267 million to fight Joshua.
Nakisa Bidarian - the CEO of Paul’s company Most Valuable Promotions - said it’s “an incredible day”.
He told Sky Sports: “Jake thought of this in March of this year and said, 'I want to fight Anthony Joshua'.
“People laughed then. In July the question was asked, ‘Do you see this happening?’ - and the plan was to do this in March or April of 2026. Plans changed and Jake stood up and said, 'I want to face Joshua now.’”
Paul has long expressed his interest in fighting Joshua, and had approached AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn to set up the fight for after his cancelled bout with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis - which was canned once a lawsuit was filed against Davis by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
