BoxRec

Anthony Joshua: Jake Paul is 'front-runner' to fight British star next, says promoter Eddie Hearn

Jake Paul is absolutely the "front-runner" to fight Anthony Joshua next, says Eddie Hearn; the promoter says it is "bizarre" Paul and his "merry men" thinks he can beat heavyweight AJ

Jake Paul is absolutely the "front-runner" to fight Anthony Joshua next, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua, who has not fought since losing to Daniel Dubois in September last year, underwent elbow surgery in May but is targeting a return to the ring later in 2025.

Since then, YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Paul has beaten veterans Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at heavyweight and cruiserweight respectively.

After defeating Chavez by unanimous decision last month, Paul audaciously called for a showdown with Joshua and has met with Turki Alalshikh to try and make it happen.

Paul propelled himself to fame on YouTube but has now won 12 fights after launching his boxing career in 2020.

The 28-year-old suffered defeat to Tommy Fury in 2023 but has gone on to beat former UFC star Nate Diaz, professional American boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland, plus former UFC fighter Mike Perry.

A controversially-sanctioned bout against Tyson is Paul's only heavyweight fight so far, before he stepped down to cruiserweight against Chavez.

We need to start taking this fight seriously.

If it happens, then AJ is clearly not bothered about his boxing career anymore.

Jake Paul's manager, Nakisa Bidarian, has revealed to Sky Sports that discussions are underway for a major fight with Anthony Joshua.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 11:54 We need to start taking this fight seriously.

If it happens, then AJ is clearly not bothered about his boxing career anymore.

As much as I hate the idea of it and definitely won't watch it, AJ can pocket a huge bag of money and then fight a real boxer straight after.

I wouldn't mind it if it was an exhibition, but for this to be sanctioned by, presumably, the BBBofC proves how little they care for boxer's safety.

As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

Sounds like another in a long line of Jake Paul matchups that get talked about and then forgotten about.

Absolutely no chance this happens, give your heads a shake.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

If you were AJ, would you take the Paul fight before a summer blockbuster with Fury next year?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:35

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

If you were AJ, would you take the Paul fight before a summer blockbuster with Fury next year?

Yes. It's his only option, really. They won't let him near anyone in the top 50 after his last effort.

I'd love this one. This one would prove once and for all whether or not Jake Paul can just buy off all of his opponents or not. Joshua doesn't need the money to be bribed.

If Joshua doesn't KO Paul savagely in 1 round you'd know it's a fix.

Remember how easy Joshua handled Ngannou? I honestly figure Ngannou would handle Jake Paul about that easily.

Apparently.. AJ is choosing between Paul and Yoka.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 13:03 I'd love this one. This one would prove once and for all whether or not Jake Paul can just buy off all of his opponents or not. Joshua doesn't need the money to be bribed.

If Joshua doesn't KO Paul savagely in 1 round you'd know it's a fix.

Remember how easy Joshua handled Ngannou? I honestly figure Ngannou would handle Jake Paul about that easily.

I really wouldn't want a fair fight. Paul could get badly hurt.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 13:54

gilgamesh wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 13:03 I'd love this one. This one would prove once and for all whether or not Jake Paul can just buy off all of his opponents or not. Joshua doesn't need the money to be bribed.

If Joshua doesn't KO Paul savagely in 1 round you'd know it's a fix.

Remember how easy Joshua handled Ngannou? I honestly figure Ngannou would handle Jake Paul about that easily.

I really wouldn't want a fair fight. Paul could get badly hurt.

Good. That would be the end of all this Jake Paul nonsense.

I would have no sympathy for him if he was beaten to death quite frankly. If he's stupid enough to think he can whip Anthony Joshua's ass, and talk sh*t, and make the fight happen after building himself up on the backs of washed up Legends and MMA fighters, I don't f*cking care what happens to this kid.

Let's be real here though. One big shot, and it's curtains for Paul. He's not going to take a beating. He's going to take 1 vicious clean punch, and that's gonna be that.

If he somehow stands up to that punch. He won't take many of 'em before he quits because he's scared to death.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 13:02

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:35

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

If you were AJ, would you take the Paul fight before a summer blockbuster with Fury next year?

Yes. It's his only option, really. They won't let him near anyone in the top 50 after his last effort.

You're saying Fury's not in the top fifty? I thought you liked him.

Money talks

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:43

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

It's a shame that AJ didn't fight Ngannou, so we could measure his and Fury's performance against the same opponent.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:51

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:43

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

It's a shame that AJ didn't fight Ngannou, so we could measure his and Fury's performance against the same opponent.

As the biggest critic of Fury on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:51

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:43

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

It's a shame that AJ didn't fight Ngannou, so we could measure his and Fury's performance against the same opponent.

It only there was some oil rich Arab who can actually make these fights happen.

Maybe one day

Coco wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:38Money talks

But it don't sing and dance and it don't walk

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 11:54 We need to start taking this fight seriously.

If it happens, then AJ is clearly not bothered about his boxing career anymore.

Why shouldn't he make what would effectively be a personal appearance for a great deal of money and then go on with boxing? If a boxer takes a walk on part in a TV show does that show they've given up on boxing?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 13:52 Apparently.. AJ is choosing between Paul and Yoka.

That's just embarrassing.
Yoka is a husk of his amateur prowess, if anyone fights him it should be Joyce in a main non PPV event titled;
"Reverse the Rip-off"

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:59

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:51

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:43

It's a shame that AJ didn't fight Ngannou, so we could measure his and Fury's performance against the same opponent.

As the biggest critic of Fury on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

I guess you missed his next two fights. Still clearly the number two heavyweight in the world.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:51

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:43

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 12:19 As the biggest critic of AJ on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

It's a shame that AJ didn't fight Ngannou, so we could measure his and Fury's performance against the same opponent.

You know better than that, Keith...

mickey1975 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 18:24

joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:59

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025, 16:51

It's a shame that AJ didn't fight Ngannou, so we could measure his and Fury's performance against the same opponent.

As the biggest critic of Fury on here even I didn't expect his demise to be so dramatic.

I guess you missed his next two fights. Still clearly the number two heavyweight in the world.

Clearly, not sure about that Micky.