Audio issues on Netflix led to complaints from subscribers, who were unimpressed when attempting to watch Friday’s boxing card, culminating in Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua
20:45 ET, 19 Dec 2025
Netflix subscribers complained about the audio quality ahead of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Fans who tuned in to watch Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua on Friday night voiced their frustrations as the Netflix broadcast suffered audio issues toward the start of the main card.
The main card began at 8 p.m. ET in Miami, with the full boxing coverage available to watch live on Netflix. Though the main event between Paul and Joshua wasn’t scheduled until approximately 10:30 p.m. ET, fans began to complain about the coverage.
Netflix has suffered technical difficulties in the past, but the user experience has vastly improved since the streaming platform began investing in live sports. However, although the broadcasting crew and the overall production quality have upgraded, fans claimed that the audio quality was underwhelming.
READ MORE: Travis Kelce makes mockery of NFL policy with 11-word statement after Chiefs lossREAD MORE: Knockout was on leaked Jake Paul fight ‘script’ before controversial bout
“Multibillion pound company and the audio quality is rough,” one fan wrote on X. “Let’s fix the audio quality here @netflix,” another added.
“The audio isn’t matching the stream on Netflix, same for anyone else?” A third fan asked. “Sorry Netflix but leave live stuff to the professionals, can’t even get the audio and mouth movement the same,” another wrote.
“You would think they would do several audio tests prior to one of their biggest productions. But nah, they just decided to wing it,” another angry subscriber wrote.
Paul will fight Joshua on Friday at the Kaseya Center, Miami(Image: Getty Images)
Despite the complaints, Netflix has emerged as a significant competitor in sports broadcasting, offering all content to subscribers at no additional cost. Netflix will broadcast NFL games on Christmas Day this year and has also made a move in boxing.
Paul has been heavily involved in Netflix’s boxing coverage, and his 2024 bout against Mike Tyson garnered 65 million concurrent streams worldwide. However, his fight against Joshua is the biggest boxing event Netflix has hosted yet.
Joshua is a former heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, but his career was impacted following back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk. Paul remains a controversial figure in boxing, having entered the industry from an unconventional influencer background.
Paul and Joshua both entered boxing in different circumstances(Image: Getty Images)
Paul is 12-1 in his professional career, but the majority of his wins came against retired MMA fighters. Joshua is by far the biggest test of his combat sports career, with boxing fans stunned that the fight is going ahead.
Joshua faced backlash after stating that he could “kill” Paul inside the ring, but doubled down on his comments ahead of Friday’s main event. “It’s my job, we fight. We have a licence to kill,” he said.
“I’m sure many people don’t understand it but this is what my job is. I just enjoy what I do. Whatever happens, happens – as long as my hand is raised, that’s what’s important, respectfully. That’s just what the mentality we have to have as fighters. I don’t know if other fighters think that way. Maybe they’re a bit more tame. The way my mind works.
“When you’re in the ring, it’s a dangerous thing. Anything can happen. You hope your opponent leaves the ring safely, but if they don’t, you still have to go to bed knowing you just did your job. It wasn’t personal.”
