British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua has issued a warning to American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul following a taunt about his previous knockout defeats, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Paul, 28, revealed in a recent interview with The Sun that he and the former two-time heavyweight champion had been exchanging private messages earlier this year, during which he mocked Joshua over his knockout losses. However, the trolling prompted a stern response from the 35-year-old.
According to Paul, the last message he received from Joshua carried a clear and menacing tone.
“He said, ‘I can’t wait to fight. You’re gonna be fighting for your life and you’ll know the feeling that I’ve gone through.’ Or something like that,” Paul told SunSport, admitting it was the last time he heard from Joshua.
The brewing tension has fuelled speculation about a possible future clash between both men, with Paul expressing his desire to face Joshua in front of a hostile British crowd.
“My first fight was in front of an English crowd and it’s rowdy,” Paul said.
“I love walking into the lions’ den and so me versus Anthony Joshua, 100,000 people chanting ‘f*** Jake Paul’ would be pretty fun for me.”
Joshua, who has not fought since suffering a knockout defeat to fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in September, is currently recovering from elbow surgery.
Despite his recent inactivity, he remains a formidable presence in the heavyweight scene.
Paul, meanwhile, continues to blur the lines between entertainment and elite boxing. His controversial exhibition bout against boxing legend Mike Tyson was watched by over 100 million viewers on Netflix.
Paul won the eight-round fight, though it drew widespread criticism due to Tyson’s age.
As he returned to the ring on Sunday, beating former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a dominant points victory, Paul remains focused on climbing the ranks.
“I think it’s back to the drawing board after this, especially depending on what the WBC and WBA rank me after I win,” he said.
“If they rank me in the position where I can go for a world championship, then we’re gonna try and get that done.”
