Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua could be set for a sensational bout against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, as both camps have entered preliminary talks over a potential showdown.
Joshua, 36, has not fought since his fifth-round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September last year — a defeat that cast doubt over his future in the heavyweight division.
His longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn, hinted as far back as August that a Joshua–Paul clash was “likely,” and on Thursday, he confirmed to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast that discussions between the two sides had indeed taken place.
“Our focus is on 2026,” added Hearn. “We have a big fight planned for February and a big fight hopefully against Tyson Fur,y next year.
“We may run out in 2025. We were just going to have a low-key fight somewhere – if that is going to destroy the run of Mr Paul and make tens of millions of dollars in the process, then maybe. Nothing is confirmed yet.”
Media reports on Wednesday claimed the fight was close to being finalised, but Hearn’s latest comments suggest that negotiations remain at an early stage.
If the bout goes ahead, it would mark one of the most headline-grabbing crossovers in modern boxing — pairing Joshua’s championship pedigree with Jake Paul’s global social media clout.
Paul, 28, has steadily built a professional record by defeating a mix of MMA fighters and fellow crossover opponents. Facing Joshua, however, would represent a monumental step up in competition for the American.
Hearn emphasised that while Joshua remains focused on returning to elite contention, a high-profile event like this could generate massive global attention and commercial appeal.
