Jake Paul has been no stranger to a controversial decision during his colourful boxing career. However, news of the purse that he has accepted to face former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is genuinely surprising – even by the standards of ‘The Problem Child’.

The social media superstar was heavily criticised for taking on a 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November in a bout that descended into farce. An embarrassingly low number of punches were landed during the 10-round contest, as the heavyweight legend looked every bit of a man just a few years shy of his 60th birthday.

While Paul vs Tyson never lived up to the pre-fight hype, the 28-year-old still banked a fortune, reportedly earning as much as $40 million for the bout. According to Saudi Arabian boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh, Paul has agreed to a very different purse for his proposed clash with Joshua.

Alalshikh and Paul have rarely seen eye-to-eye in recent years, with Turki making his dislike of some of Jake’s choices crystal clear. Despite this, the pair were pictured together shortly after Paul’s victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr last month. Among the topics they discussed when meeting was a potential fight with ‘AJ’.

During a recent rant on his podcast, Jake vowed that he would knock Joshua out, as the Brit “doesn’t have a chin”. Unsurprisingly, those comments soon made their way back to Joshua, who swiftly set up a phone call with the upstart fighter. Ultimately, the duo agreed to meet each other in the ring in a bout that has been pencilled in for 2026.

Jake Paul has Already Agreed to Face Anthony Joshua – With a Surprising Purse Split

Boxing’s most powerful promoter wants to see the fight happen

Now undeniably one of the most powerful men in the sport, it was inevitable that Alalshikh would have some involvement in the fight. Speaking during a recent appearance on ‘Tha Boxing Voice’ podcast, Turki explained why he is so keen to see Joshua vs Paul take place.

Alalshikh then confirmed the unique financial terms that he had offered Paul for the fight which, remarkably, he revealed had already been accepted.

If Jake Paul wins, I will know that Joshua is finished, and Jake Paul deserves his ranking and deserves to have a future in boxing….I don’t want 50-50. In this situation, I want 99-1. Jake Paul has accepted. Now, next week, I will talk with Joshua about it.”

Given the stature of the names involved, it is not unreasonable to assume that Paul and Joshua could be fighting with a $50 million prize purse on the line. Assuming that Jake is true to his word, his 1% share would be worth just $500,000, compared to the staggering $49.5m that the Londoner would walk away with.

‘AJ’ would be a massive favourite for the fight if it does happen. With such a prestigious prize pot available, Joshua may struggle to turn down the opportunity to earn so much cash with seemingly such little risk involved.

Whether Paul will actually agree to what must be classed as one of the worst deals in boxing history remains to be seen, but the fight itself looks to be an ever more realistic prospect.

Jake Paul accepts ludicrous terms to fight Anthony Joshua during Turki Alalshikh meeting

Jake Paul has proven he is serious about facing Anthony Joshua by accepting an incredibly low purse split for the crossover clash.

‘The Problem Child’ met with Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh last week to discuss a possible fight with AJ.

Paul has set his sights on the former unified heavyweight champion after overcoming Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in his last outing.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer vowed to knock out Joshua during a lengthy rant on his podcast where he claimed the Watford powerhouse ‘doesn’t have a chin’.

This led to a phone call with the Olympic gold medallist, where both men verbally agreed to face each other in 2026.

Boxing mogul Alalshikh was then contacted to get involved with the fight.

And during a recent appearance on ‘Tha Boxing Voice’, he revealed that Paul had accepted his proposal for a 99-1 purse split in Joshua’s favour.

“I’m not against what Jake Paul’s doing in boxing, it’s good for boxing to have a young generation,” said Alalshikh.

“I’m against some kinds of fights he does. I’m now thinking him against Joshua. Joshua, if he destroys (Paul), it will be good for me.

“The headache of Jake Paul goes from my mind.

“If Jake Paul wins, I will know that Joshua is finished, and Jake Paul deserves his ranking and deserves to have a future in boxing.

“I don’t want 50-50. In this situation, I want 99-1.

“Jake Paul has accepted. Now, next week I will talk with Joshua about it.”

If Paul signs for these terms, then Joshua will receive a 99 per cent lion’s share of the total prize pot.

Both men are commercial juggernauts in the boxing sphere, and the expectation is that they would demand a similar cut.

Paul pocketed $40million to fight Mike Tyson last November, but under Alalshikh’s terms, he wouldn’t come anywhere near that sum.

On the flip side, Joshua would bank one of the biggest purses in boxing history.

There will undoubtedly be serious money on the line for the fight, and with a 99 per cent share, Joshua could make eight figures.

Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul showdown confirmed by Saudi boxing chief

Jake Paul isn’t slowing down after his latest win. In fact, he might be stepping into the most outrageous-and ambitious-fight of his career.

According to Turki Al-Sheikh, one of the most powerful figures in global boxing promotion and a key figure behind Saudi Arabia’s recent boxing boom, Paul has already given a verbal “yes” to fightingAnthony Joshua. Al-Sheikh broke the news during a recent appearance on Tha Boxing Voice podcast.

“Jake Paul accepted now,” Al-Sheikh said. “Next week, I will talk with Joshua about it.”

While Al-Sheikh has been critical of some of Paul’s matchmaking-like the polarizing (and postponed) Mike Tyson fight-he didn’t hide his curiosity about a potential clash with Joshua. “If Joshua just destroys him, that’s good for me,” he said. “And if Jake Paul wins? Then Joshua is finished, and Paul deserves to be ranked.”

The Fight Nobody Asked For-But Everyone Will Watch

Paul (12-1), who just beat former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision, is now ranked No. 14 in the WBA cruiserweight division. The ranking raised eyebrows-and opened new doors. His post-fight callouts included several high-profile names, but none stood out quite like Joshua.

Joshua, on the other hand, has been eyeing a showdown with Tyson Fury. But with Fury now officially retired, options are shifting. And according to Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, the idea of facing Paul isn’t as far-fetched as it once seemed.

“If Jake Paul was mad enough to do it, I think Anthony would probably say yes as well,” Hearn told talkSPORT Boxing. “Not really a fight we’ve been targeting-but if it’s presented, why not?”

That sentiment echoes what many in boxing are starting to realize: in today’s fight landscape, spectacle often trumps tradition.

Paul fired back at critics on X, writing, “I will do what I want, with who I want, when I want… You rodents talk so much s— but when I take on the biggest challenges, you start having panic attacks.”

Whether it’s bravado or brilliance, Paul knows how to stay in the spotlight. Now, the ball is in Joshua’s court. And if he agrees, the sports world might be looking at one of the most talked-about boxing events of the decade.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that talks are underway for a sensational bout between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, with the proposed fight receiving backing from Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman, Turki Alalshikh.

In an interview with Boxing News during the Ring III official weigh-in, Hearn revealed that discussions have taken a serious turn following a recent conversation with Alalshikh, the key figure behind many high-profile boxing events in Saudi Arabia.

“After speaking to His Excellency last night… in this mad world that we live in, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Hearn said when asked about the possibility of Joshua facing YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

The potential bout, which had previously been dismissed as fantasy matchmaking, now seems to have traction following Paul’s call-out of Joshua earlier this year. In March, the American provocateur claimed he would knock out the former heavyweight champion, sparking interest and speculation.

Paul later revealed during a press conference in April that Joshua had reached out to him privately, further fuelling the rumour mill.

“Our focus is to fight Tyson Fury, but (Joshua) needs a fight before then. If that’s Jake Paul and if you guys want that fight, I know the numbers would be massive, the world would want to see it,” Hearn said.

He also claimed that Joshua himself is open to the idea.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that discussions are underway for a potential blockbuster clash between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh reportedly keen to stage the crossover bout.

Alalshikh, the influential chairman behind many of Saudi Arabia’s major boxing events, recently met with Jake Paul in Riyadh, sparking speculation about an unlikely but lucrative showdown between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and the former unified heavyweight champion.

Speaking to Boxing News during the Ring III weigh-in, Hearn admitted the idea is gaining traction:
“After speaking to His Excellency last night… in this mad world that we live in, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

While Joshua still has his sights set on an all-British heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury, Hearn says the door is open for a crossover fight with Paul, especially with Alalshikh expressing interest.

“Yeah, there have been discussions,” Hearn told Pro Boxing Fans. “I think he [Alalshikh] would like to do it. It’s mad enough to happen. It’s not something we were targeting, but if it’s offered, I’d be shocked if AJ didn’t accept it. Why wouldn’t you?”

Hearn clarified that the focus remains on securing a Tyson Fury bout in 2025, but hinted that squeezing in a Paul fight wouldn’t be out of the question: “If you guys want AJ to end this whole process, he’ll gladly do it.”

While still in early talks, the potential Joshua vs Paul matchup has now moved from fantasy to a real possibility, with the financial and promotional power of Saudi Arabia making even the most unlikely bouts a reality.