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Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are in talks over a blockbuster fight and Tyson Fury has backed the YouTube star to defeat the two-time heavyweight world champion

Tyson Fury has boldly claimed Jake Paul will beat Anthony Joshua if they ever fight, with the Gypsy King ready to bet £1million on the American. Paul has a 12-1 record as a boxer and most recently beat former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr last month.

Joshua, meanwhile, has not fought since he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Paul called out the Brit in March, with the 28-year-old claiming he would “f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s ass”.

A meeting in 2026 was teased and Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently confirmed that there have been talks about making the fight happen. And Fury has now delivered his verdict on the clash, backing Paul to upset Joshua.

“Jake Paul chins AJ, yes,” Fury said in an interview with iFL TV. “100 percent. If they fight, I’m putting a million pounds on Jake Paul.”

Anthony Joshua made two-word comment after Oleksandr Usyk KO’d Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury told to agree certain terms before mega-fight

And when Fury’s comments were put to Paul, the YouTuber told iFL TV : “He’s a smart guy. He sees what I see which is a weakness in somebody that has been fighting a bit too long. People underestimate me and doubt me and that’s what they’ve done their whole career.

“But that’s why I want the fight – I want to prove the world wrong. It’s gonna happen, it’s not even about it being realistic. Meeting with Turki (Al-Sheikh), talking with Turki upstairs, negotiating live here today, it’s gonna happen.”

Hearn, though, has previously branded the clash a “catastrophic mismatch” and claimed it “shouldn’t really happen”. He told talkSPORT earlier this year: “He’s calling out Anthony Joshua, who is a heavyweight monster.

“I think Jake Paul is crazy enough to fight Anthony Joshua because the money would be absolutely obscene. It’s a catastrophic mismatch that people would tune in to watch, because it would be the end of Jake Paul. It’s that dangerous.

“It’s a fight that shouldn’t really happen. They’re very clever in terms of the opponents they pick. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jake Paul wanted to move forward with an Anthony Joshua fight. Would he [Joshua] go in there and give him a hiding for a massive chunk of money?

“Probably. I’d be saying, ‘Yeah, go on. I’d like to see. Is he [Jake] world-class? Absolutely not, but he is improving. He’s a lot better than a lot of fighters out there.”

Anthony Joshua is yet to announce his return to the ring but watched Oleksandr Usyk knock out Daniel Dubois.

Anthony Joshua has expressed a sense of missed opportunity following Oleksandr Usyk’s knockout victory over Daniel Dubois. Dubois faced a crushing defeat at Wembley on Saturday night and was stopped in the fifth round by Usyk, echoing the moment 10 months prior when Dubois claimed a KO win over Joshua. With this triumph, Usyk reclaimed his status as the undisputed heavyweight world champion for the second time against a British opponent.

Joshua, out of action since last September, is poised for a comeback later in the year. Eddie Hearn, speaking to The Stomping Ground, revealed that he had messaged Joshua after Usyk’s win, saying: “Yeah I did. I text him saying, number one: Usyk is unbelievable. And number two: We really should have beaten Dubois,” to which AJ responded with: “I know.”

While Joshua’s next opponent remains unconfirmed, there’s growing buzz around a potential bout with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The American watched Usyk continue his undefeated streak ringside at Wembley and squared off with the Ukrainian in the ring post-fight. However, Paul’s immediate ambition lies in a match-up with Joshua, aiming to stage it at the iconic national stadium.

“It’s going to happen, it’s going to happen,” Paul declared to talkSPORT. “I want it to happen here (Wembley). All the odds stacked against me. I believe that I will beat him and shock the world and create one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.”

Hearn has disclosed his intention to hold further talks with Nakisa Bidarian, the CEO of Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. “It sounds like Anthony Joshua is going to fight Jake Paul,” Hearn declared.

“If he is true to his word, if he really wants the fight… the fight will happen. I can’t believe… its great that Tyson Fury is saying Jake Paul is going to win… maybe I’ve lost my mind.

“If they truly want the fight, I’m going to speak to Nakisa next week, we can make the fight that does the biggest numbers in the sport. Forget Canelo vs Crawford, it doesn’t touch the surface of AJ against Jake Paul.

“If you want to do the biggest numbers in the sport, we will make it happen, but be careful what you wish for. This ain’t a game, this ain’t a YouTube video, this isn’t numbers or algorithms, this is physically dangerous.

“But if you want to do it, we’ll do it. I’m not going to argue about it, I’m just telling Jake Paul this is real and he has to understand the consequences that come with a fight like this.”

Anthony Joshua Reacts To Oleksandr Usyk Knocking Out Daniel Dubois For The Second Time

Oleksandr Usyk cemented his position as the best heavyweight of his generation with a demolition of Daniel Dubois in their rematch.

The Ukrainian became a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion by beating Dubois in even more emphatic fashion than he did when they first met in 2023. On that night he stopped ‘DDD’ inside nine rounds, but this time, in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley, he knocked the Brit out four rounds earlier after a dominant performance from the first bell.

One man who was a keen observer was former Usyk and Dubois foe, Anthony Joshua. Speaking to ‘The Stomping Ground’ promoter Eddie Hearn revealed his conversation with ‘AJ’ in the wake of Dubois’ performance, with the former champion replying ‘I know’ when told he should have beaten ‘DDD’ when they met in September.

“Yeah, I spoke to AJ. I just text him and I said number 1, Usyk is unbelievable and number 2, we really should have beaten Dubois and he goes ‘I Know’.”

As for who’s next for Joshua, who’s last fight saw himself stopped by Dubois, Hearn now thinks Jake Paul is the most likely option.

“I think right now to be honest with you in this bizarre world where we just saw Jake Paul facing off with Oleksandr Usyk, what is going on? The pound for pound number one fighter in the world is facing off with Jake Paul.

But it sounds like AJ is going to fight Jake Paul, if he’s true to his word and really wants the fight, it’s all very well saying ‘he’s got a weak chin and I’ll knock him out’, listen if he’s true to his word the fight will happen. If they actually want the fight then we can do the fight that does the biggest numbers in the sport. Forget Canelo vs Crawford, that doesn’t even touch the surface of AJ against Jake Paul.

If you want to o the biggest numbers in the sport we’ll make it happen but please be careful what you wish for, this ain’t a game, this is physically dangerous, so if you want to do it be careful but we will do it.”

Another possibility for Joshua is a long-awaited clash against Tyson Fury, although ‘The Gypsy King’ has made it clear he wants one more crack at Usyk.

Eddie Hearn provides timeline for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury as unorthodox opponent in the pipeline for ‘AJ’

Anthony Joshua is still without an opponent as he seeks his first dance partner since Daniel Dubois in 2024.

Fans are still unsure whether they will ever get their highly-anticipated match between Joshua and Fury. Although the ‘Gypsy King’ is seemingly returning to the ring, Oleksandr Usyk is the desired opponent for Fury.

This means that Joshua may look to another opponent, as Fury is an unlikely foe for his 2025 comeback.

Amid the confusion of Joshua’s situation, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has provided a timeline for the potential Fury fight.

Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury only possible in 2026

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Hearn spoke about the current situation regarding Joshua and a potential Fury fight.

Hearn said, “We want to fight Tyson Fury, but, we are going to fight before that Tyson Fury fight.”

The Matchroom boxing promoter said the reason behind this was because Fury would likely not face Joshua before 2026. “He’s [Fury] not going to fight Joshua until spring or summer of 2026.”

Since Joshua has not performed since September 2024, this is the reason Hearn is eager to get his fighter back in the ring before 2026.

In terms of fights prior to a potential meeting with Fury, Jake Paul has been mentioned as an option for ‘AJ’. Although Hearn feels it would be a one-sided victory for Joshua against Paul, he has since spoken on the possibility of the fight.

Eddie Hearn says Jake Paul is a possible opponent for Anthony Joshua

Although the Fury fight is the priority for Hearn and Joshua, the boxing promoter is seemingly open to a fight with Paul.

“We definitely want to fight again. We had a meeting with His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh], who met Jake Paul the night before. Jake Paul has reached out to Anthony Joshua a few times. I’ve spoken to Nakisa [Bidarian], Jake’s manager.”

Hearn added that Joshua vs Paul ‘was never a fight he anticipated,’ but could be a potential ‘warm-up’ fight for ‘AJ’.

As well as seeing the bout as potentially financially favorable, Hearn feels the fight can ‘extinguish’ Paul from the boxing world.

In terms of how the fight could play out, Hearn reiterated his feelings that ‘the fight wouldn’t be competitive.’ However, the Englishman went on to say, “It may be the biggest fight that could be made, bizarrely, in the sport.”

LONDON — Boxing legend Lennox Lewis said Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua “owe the British public” a fight between them.

Lewis, the last British undisputed heavyweight champion, wants to see two of the modern greats from the United Kingdom face off before they hang up their gloves.

The former world champions have been heavily linked to fight each other on multiple occasions, but a bout has never materialized.

With Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) twice losing to Oleksandr Usyk last year and Joshua going down to Daniel Dubois in September, the door appeared to be open for them to meet this year with no belts on the line.

However, Fury announced his latest retirement in January, pouring cold water on the prospect once again.

Earlier this month, Fury said he would return in 2026 against Usyk. Neither Fury nor Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) have fought this year.

Their promoters, Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, have both declared they want to see the fight, and Lewis believes they owe it to fans.

Speaking ahead of the Usyk-Dubois clash on Saturday night, Lewis was asked if it would be a travesty if the bout never happened.

“Yeah, we need to see it,” he said. “We need to see that fight. I think they owe it to the British public.”

Fury is expected to be at Saturday’s undisputed title fight between Usyk and Daniel Dubois, but it is unknown whether Joshua will attend.

– Usyk 16 lbs lighter than Dubois as rivals face off
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– Ranking the top 10 British heavyweights of all time

Lewis said Joshua should be at the big events to push himself into the conversation more.

“I think it’s a missed opportunity for him,” Lewis said. “I think he should show up if he wants that fight and if he still feels that he’s got it.

“It really depends on what he [Joshua] wants to prove,” he said. “If he wants to prove that he’s still got it, then he’s got to come back and box somebody that’s got it.

“I think everybody’s looking at the Tyson Fury fight for him. I think that’s a good fight for him.”

Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury remains the dream British super-fight, and Turki Alalshikh has reignited hopes of making it happen in 2026, reports worldboxingnews.com.

The influential Saudi advisor revealed plans to stage the all-British showdown next year, but only after both men return in separate tune-up fights to rebound from recent defeats.

Speaking to ThaBoxingVoice, Alalshikh explained the condition. The Ring Magazine boss is implementing a carefully crafted strategy to maximize anticipation and rebuild momentum for the heavyweight blockbuster.

“Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next year, we are trying to do it and thinking about it. I need to have a tune-up fight for each one first. Why? Because they are both coming from losing. It’s to build it up.”

The comments mark Alalshikh’s most direct statement yet on the future of Joshua and Fury, who are both coming off setbacks to undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk and his today’s opponent, Daniel Dubois.

While Fury suffered a decision loss in December and retired soon afterward, Dubois took Joshua out in brutal fashion last September.

Saudi Arabia has hosted the biggest boxing spectacles of the past two years, and Alalshikh’s influence continues to shape the sport’s elite matchups.

However, a Fury vs Joshua collision at Wembley could become the crown jewel of the 2026 calendar.

For now, fans must wait as both fighters reset, with Alalshikh’s plan clear. Rebuild the road to one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

If Usyk wins today and drops any of his title belts, the collision may still have a chance of being a world title fight yet.

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’.

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua’s professional boxing records (as of 18/07/25)
Jake Paul Anthony Joshua
Fights 12 32
Wins 11 (7 KOs) 28 (25 KOs)
Losses 1 4

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

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua

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.

“I’m not against what Jake Paul’s doing in boxing, it’s good for boxing to have a younger generation… I’m against some kinds of fights he does. I’m now thinking of him against Joshua…. Joshua, if he destroys (Paul), it will be good for me….The headache of Jake Paul goes from my mind!”

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.

Turki Al-Sheikh and Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul

“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.

The fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul now has the backing of Turki Al-Sheikh.

Following his most recent victory, Jake Paul shows no signs of deceleration and could be entering the ring for the most audacious—and ambitious—bout of his career.

As per Turki Al-Sheikh, who is a major player in worldwide boxing promotion and instrumental in the recent surge of boxing in Saudi Arabia.

During a recent appearance on the Tha Boxing Voice podcast, Al-Sheikh announced the news, revealing that Paul has already verbally agreed to fight Anthony Joshua.

Turki Al-Sheikh on Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul

He said, “Jake Paul accepted now.

“Next week, I will talk with Joshua about it.”

“If Joshua just destroys him, that’s good for me.

“And if Jake Paul wins? Then Joshua is finished, and Paul deserves to be ranked.”

Although Al-Sheikh has criticized some of Paul’s matchmaking decisions he has expressed interest in a possible matchup with Joshua.

Paul, who recently defeated former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. with a unanimous decision, is now ranked No. 14 in the WBA cruiserweight division.

The ranking caused surprise and created new opportunities and called out Joshua.

On the other hand, Joshua has been looking forward to a clash with Tyson Fury.

Now that Fury is officially retired, options are changing, and the prospect of facing Paul doesn’t seem as far-fetched as it once did.