Promoter reveals why Anthony Joshua can’t afford to turn down Jake Paul mismatch fight
Having missed out on a controversial fight with Jake Paul for the time being, Anthony Joshua likely cannot afford to be left waiting by the Ohio native again, it seems.
Yet to book his own return to the ring, former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua has been left without a dance partner for a planned end-of-year comeback.
Most notably, the Watford star was lined up to potentially fight the polarizing Jake Paul in his boxing return, however, the influencer has now pivoted to a fight with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.
With Joshua now expected to make his comeback at the beginning of next year instead, he has been warned that a fight with Paul in the immediate future is one he cannot afford to miss out on again.
Eddie Hearn gives reason why Anthony Joshua should fight Jake Paul
Confirming plans for his client Joshua to return to the ring at the beginning of next year, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken candidly regarding the failed fight with Paul.
Revealing, however, how Paul and his business partner Nakisa Badarian are still hopeful of booking the former against Joshua, Hearn revealed a fresh timeline for a potential clash.
And if presented the opportunity to finally face off with Paul in the ring, Joshua has been encouraged to do so by his promoter.
“I explained to Nakisa that if Jake Paul gets chinned by Gervonta Davis, we can’t fight you, mate,” Hearn told The Ring. “I know it’s an exhibition, so that probably won’t happen, but we have to wait and see what happens there first.
“But when you look at the current heavyweight picture, we can’t really turn down a Jake Paul fight because it’s easier than all the other warmup fights out there and it’s three times the money,” Hearn explained.
Anthony Joshua backed to fight Tyson Fury next summer
Maintaining how the team at Matchroom must carefully put together Joshua’s next couple of fights, Hearn remains optimistic nevertheless, that a pairing between the Olympian and former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is still possible.
Failing time and time again in the past to put the two British stars together in the ring, Hearn claimed ideally Joshua would finally face off with Morecambe native Fury in the summer of next year, following an initial warm-up fight in his return to the squared circle
“All that’s in my mind in an ideal scenario is to fight Tyson Fury next year,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “That’s the big focus.
“From a common-sense perspective, the fight has to happen in 2026, but common sense and Fury’s decisions don’t always gel together,” Hearn continued. “He’s got to want to come back. It’s a personal decision.”
