Anthony Joshua was originally due to fight in Saudi Arabia this week before a surprise agreement was finalised to face Jake Paul instead, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed.
The heavyweight star stunned the boxing world by announcing an eight-round showdown with Paul for December 19 in Miami – but that bout replaced plans for a secret, low-key tune-up fight.
Speaking in Riyadh, Hearn revealed that Joshua had been lined up to box American heavyweight Cassius Chaney in an unannounced event.
“Yes, we had a deal with a guy called Cassius Chaney, a good American,” he told The Sun.
“We were gonna fight an eight-round fight this weekend… We hadn’t told anyone. We were just gonna rock up on fight night.
“We weren’t going to do a press conference, we weren’t going to do a weigh-in.”
Hearn explained that Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh planned to introduce Joshua as a surprise addition to the card on the night.
However, talks with Paul intensified.
Anthony Joshua’s last five fights
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Anthony Joshua had been due to lock horns with Cassius Chaney
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Hearn disclosed: “Two weeks ago that was becoming unlikely because the negotiations with Jake Paul.
“We had to keep both moving because I didn’t really believe Jake Paul was going to do this… and the eight-round fight fell away.”
Chaney, 23–2, had been set to receive the career opportunity of a lifetime.
Instead, Joshua will now meet Paul, who is 12–1 as a professional. The social media personality’s only defeat came by split decision against Tommy Fury back in 2023.
Anthony Joshua has not fought since his defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024
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PAJoshua, 36, has not fought since suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 and has spent 15 months out of the ring.
Paul emerged as a candidate for December after plans for him to face Gervonta Davis were cancelled.
With other options such as Ryan Garcia and Terence Crawford unavailable at short notice, Paul’s team sought a new opponent with enough star appeal for a Netflix-backed event. Joshua, consequently, quickly became the unlikely frontrunner.
Hearn believes Paul may have convinced himself the timing favours him.
“He’s been out for 15 months, he’s coming off a knockout defeat, maybe his confidence isn’t what it was,” the boxing promoter said.
“But I just cannot fathom AJ losing to Jake Paul… this guy is still pretty much in his prime.”
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will fight in Miami on December 19
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Despite calling the matchup “madness,” Hearn credited Paul for taking a risk.
“You have to give Jake Paul the credit. He’s doing this because he wants to challenge himself as a boxer. I think it’s a bad move from him, but he’s obviously convinced himself and so have members of the team,” he said.
The bout will be officially sanctioned, contested over eight three-minute rounds using 10oz gloves.
Joshua will be limited to a maximum weight of 245lbs. Crucially, Hearn confirmed that Joshua still remains in line for a potential clash with Tyson Fury in September, as part of a two-fight plan laid out by Alalshikh.
“We were going to fight Chaney for maybe a 1/40th of what we’ll get to fight Jake Paul,” Hearn said.
“All we wanted to do was wrap the hands, have a run-out, then go into what we hope would be the Tyson Fury fight. But now we’ll do it with a massive profile. When we smash Jake Paul in December, we’ll be unquestionably the hottest thing in boxing.”
