Joshua v Paul? Hearn says ‘maybe’ with camps in talks

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is in talks to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Joshua, 36, has not fought since he was stopped in the fifth round by British rival Daniel Dubois in September last year.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, said in August it was likely Joshua’s next fight would be against Paul – and on Thursday confirmed that talks had taken place between the two camps.

Media outlets reported on Wednesday that a fight between the pair was almost a done deal, but Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast that “everyone has jumped the gun” with these claims.

“Our focus is on 2026,” added Hearn. “We have a big fight planned for February and a big fight hopefully against Tyson Fury 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.”

Any fight between the pair would face sanctioning questions given the difference in experience between the two fighters and is unlikely to be considered as a professional bout. An exhibition fight is the most plausible outcome.

Paul, 28, was due to face lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout on 14 November before the fight was cancelled.

Olympic gold medallist Joshua won his first world title, the IBF belt, in 2016, adding the WBO and WBA crowns over the next two years before losing all three in a shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.

He regained all three belts in a rematch against Ruiz later that year and defended them against Kubrat Pulev, before back-to-back defeats by current undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua then went on a run of four straight wins until he was dismantled by Dubois at Wembley Stadium, leaving his future under scrutiny, with his record at 28 wins and four defeats.

Paul has 12 wins and one loss in his professional boxing career – that defeat coming against Fury’s brother Tommy by split decision in 2023.