Eddie Hearn has defended discussions about a potential bout between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, pushing back against suggestions that the clash would be inherently unsafe while confirming that talks between the two camps are ongoing.
The idea surfaced earlier this week after it emerged that Joshua, a two time heavyweight champion standing 6ft 6in, had entered preliminary negotiations with Paul, the 6ft 1in YouTuber turned boxer.
The proposal is complicated by broadcast rights. Their bout is being explored for Netflix, while Joshua is contracted exclusively to DAZN.
Hearn dismissed reports that an agreement is close but acknowledged that the dialogue is real.
“It’s definitely not finalised,” he told The Sun. “There’s a lot of conversations to be had.
“Is Jake Paul for real? If he is, it would be very difficult for us to ignore the amount of money being discussed.”
Joshua, 36, had been planning a low-key eight round return in December after recovering from elbow surgery and following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Hearn admitted he did not expect that December outing to involve Paul.
Anthony Joshua hasn’t fought since losing to Daniel Dubois last September | PA
“It’s only 50/50 at this point, but if Jake Paul is mad enough to do it, it’s very likely we’ll oblige,” he said.
“AJ’s not playing games. This ain’t an exhibition. This will be a real fight.”
The promoter insisted Joshua is prepared, even as he rebuilds confidence after consecutive setbacks.
The Briton recently visited Oleksandr Usyk’s training camp as he assesses options for a new coaching team, while Hearn has held meetings with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
Jake Paul is a controversial figure within the boxing world
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GETTYAccording to Hearn, Alalshikh is keen to stage Joshua versus Tyson Fury next year, though that would require Fury to end his current retirement.
Paul, 28, had been due to face Gervonta Davis in an exhibition this week, but the event was cancelled after Davis – significantly lighter than Paul – became the subject of legal accusations in Florida.
With the show scrapped, Paul’s side began searching for a replacement, and Hearn floated Joshua’s name.
That suggestion has led to concerns about the large gap in size, experience and pedigree between the two men.
The British Boxing Board of Control is considered unlikely to license the fight in the United Kingdom, meaning it would almost certainly take place in Florida, where regulations differ and Paul regularly stages events.
Hearn defended the logic of the match up by comparing it to earlier stages of Joshua’s career.
“AJ was going to fight a heavyweight in the top 120 of BoxRec,” he said.
Anthony Joshua could still fight Tyson Fury
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PA“He’s now fighting a cruiserweight ranked somewhere around the top 60. Do I think Jake Paul can win? No.
“He trains hard, he’s had around ten or eleven fights and he knows his way around a ring, but he’ll get battered by AJ.”
He added that Paul may be counting on Joshua’s recent inactivity.
“Jake Paul will be leaning on the fact that AJ hasn’t boxed for a year and a half, that he got knocked out last time, that he’s rebuilding. But he’ll soon find out,” he added.
For now, both sides remain in talks, with no guarantee the fight will materialise.
How the situation unfolds remains to be seen.
