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Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua? Eddie Hearn thinks it could happen.

The Matchroom Boxing chairman addressed Paul’s recent comments concerning a potential matchup with Joshua, in which Paul said he will “f*cking beat Anthony Joshua’s ass.” Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion, is coming off of a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and seeks his next big fight, and if Paul’s team is serious about making that happen then so is Hearn.

“To be honest, I look at it and I think Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua—for me, we’d do it for the banter,” Hearn said on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel. “ ‘A.J.’ would fight Jake Paul. He’d fight anyone to be honest with you. If Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Anthony Joshua, he’ll need the relevant insurance.

“The only thing that was disappointing was he says 2026. That’s like me saying, ‘L.A. Olympics for the surfing in 2028, I’ll be there.’ Do it in 2025 if you really want to do it. You’re not going to get really much better at this stage. I don’t know. Those two have spoken, I spoke to A.J. this morning, he went, ‘Listen, of course I’d fight him.’”

Paul, a longtime YouTuber and social media influencer who has become one of boxing’s biggest stars, also seeks another big-name fight after a widely viewed clash with 58-year-old legend Mike Tyson this past November. That event, which streamed live on Netflix, shattered numerous viewership records while garnering considerable mainstream attention.

Hearn would be happy to do business with Paul, and he’s confident Joshua would as well.

“We know Jake creates massive events,” Hearn said. “You know that’s going to create unbelievable viewership and, no disrespect to Jake Paul, it’s a straightforward night’s work. But I like this calling out of Canelo [Alvarez] and all this. A.J. is another challenge up there. If they’re game, why not?”

Joshua has yet to address Paul’s comments himself, so for now Hearn is serving as his de facto spokesman. And he said whether it’s Paul or anyone else, Joshua is ready to get back in the ring.

“[Joshua] said, ‘Why not?’” Hearn said. “I said, ‘What do you want me to say when I’m asked about it?’ He said, ‘Tell everyone I’ll fight anyone, anytime, it’s not a problem for me.’”

Before the error was revealed, the World Boxing organization threatened to strip Shields’ title.

Claressa Shields wants folks to keep the same energy, and she’s calling everybody out until they do so. The newly named boxing Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world made recent headlines after a drug test came back positive for marijuana, but turns out, everything isn’t exactly how it seems.

On Tuesday (March 18), the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs confirmed the positive marijuana test was actually inaccurate. According to Baller Alert, the false positive was due to a procedural error during the sampling process. So now, Shields’ name has been cleared, but she wants everyone to remember exactly how they treated her before she had a chance to prove her innocence.

“Officially unsuspended ! But y’all a little quiet! Y’all was real loud about me ‘supposedly’ smoking marijuana and being suspended,” Shields wrote on X after the discrepancy was revealed. “And still an Undisputed heavyweight champ! I have the Order to prove it,” she continued saying.

But if you thought a tweet was the end of Shields’ call out, you’d be mistaken. “Let me give it up to God again for proving what I already knew,” she later said on Instagram live. “They had us smeared all over these big networks,” she continued before asking “do it look like I need some damn weed?”

The 30-year-old champion was suspended following her win over Danielle Perkins on Feb. 2. Ever since then, Shields has been doing all she can to clear her name. But despite her now proven innocent, she hasn’t forgotten how the media treated her.

Claressa Shields

“Mannn listen every network that posted I was suspended for a positive Marijuana test, YOU BETTER POST THAT IT WAS AN ERROR WITH A FAULTY TEST!” She continued on X. “Y’all Just ready to report anything bad on me! Y’all ain’t never gonna have nothing on me! Give it up! I’m going to always Win,” she declared.

But wait… there’s more. The athlete also called out the World Boxing Organization for threatening to remove her title. “I’ve been a champion for y’all organization for many years so to threaten to strip me for my title that I worked VERY HARD FOR & not stand behind me and supporting me til I atleast had a chance to prove my innocence! That was FOUL,” she said.

The organization has not responded to Shields’ demands yet, but it doesn’t look like she’s willing to give them any leeway until they do so. For now, the fiery boxer can revel in the fact that she was telling the truth all along. Fans of Shields are ready for her next fight to be scheduled now that she’s been unsuspended.

Anthony Joshua could redeem himself from last year’s defeat to Daniel Dubois. The British boxer was knocked out by ‘DDD’ at Wembley in their IBF heavyweight title fight in September. However, recent events suggest that a rematch may be on the cards.

Dubois had been eyeing a bout with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title following his latest victory, but first had to defeat Joseph Parker last month. Unfortunately, Dubois had to withdraw from his first title defence at the Kingdom Arena during fight week. This left Parker to obliterate last-minute replacement Martin Bakole, ending the match in the second round. Although Dubois kept his title due to his withdrawal, he has seemingly lost his chance to fight Usyk – with Parker now set to face the undefeated Ukrainian.

As Parker is currently the WBO’s interim heavyweight champion, the organisation has demanded that Usyk agree to a mandatory defence of his own title within 30 days before they initiate purse bid proceedings, reports the Mirror US.

Meanwhile, Usyk, who claimed a split-decision victory over Tyson Fury at Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena last May to become undisputed heavyweight champion, may opt to delay his quest to secure that title a second time. Instead, he might consider giving Parker the chance to challenge for his collection of WBA (Super), WBC, WBO and IBO belts.

This development could pave the way for Joshua to seek a rematch against Dubois for the IBF crown. Notably vocal about his desire for a lucrative bout with Fury in 2025, Joshua’s plans took a turn when the ‘Gypsy King’ hung up his gloves after two defeats to Usyk last year.

Former two-time world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has hinted at the possibility of a boxing match with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in 2026, following a recent call-out from the American social media star.

Paul, on his podcast, BS w/ Jake Paul, set his sights on a showdown with Joshua after missing out on a May clash with Canelo Alvarez.

“I want to fight Anthony Joshua,” the 28-year-old said.

“Because I know I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s a**. He doesn’t have a chin and he has no skill and he’s stiff. I love you, Anthony. We’re friends all this s***, but I want to fight you.”

Joshua responded to the callout, posting a photo on his Instagram story of a call between him and Paul, with a cryptic caption which read ‘2026.’

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, says he spoke to his client and revealed that the British-Nigerian would be open to a clash.

“I look at it and think Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua,” Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.

“For me, we’d do it for the banter. AJ would fight Jake Paul. He’d fight anyone, to be honest with you. If Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Anthony Joshua he’d need the relevant insurance. The only disappointing thing was he said 2026.

“I spoke to AJ this morning and he said, ‘Of course I’d fight him.’ Jake creates massive events. You know that will create unbelievable viewership. No disrespect to Jake Paul, it’s a straightforward night’s work.”

Paul’s controversial bout against former heavyweight world champion, Mike Tyson, 58, in November was watched by 60 million households, according to Netflix, with the Youtuber winning on points.

Paul was seemingly on the verge of securing a Cinco De Mayo showdown with Canelo, before the Mexican great opted to sign a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season, which will begin on May 3 against William Scull in a bid for the undisputed super middleweight championship.

According to boxing insider Dan Rafael, an exhibition with lightweight champion, Gervonta Davis, was also explored until his draw with Lamont Roach earlier this month, with the pair set to rematch later this year.

Netflix targeting Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez super fight in ‘aggressive boxing push’ after Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson success

Netflix are hoping to build on the momentum of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson with an ‘aggressive push’ into the boxing sphere.

The streaming platform dipped their toes into boxing for the first time in November when they landed the broadcasting rights for the controversial crossover clash.

Despite the action in the ring being massively underwhelming, the event itself was a wild commercial success.

A remarkable 60 million households tuned in to watch Paul beat Tyson via unanimous decision on Netflix, while 50 million viewed the co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

The event, which was staged at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, also shattered the record for the biggest US boxing gate outside of Las Vegas.

Paul vs Tyson’s gate grossed over $18m, double Canelo Alvarez’s $9m receipts for his grudge match with Billy Joe Saunders in 2021 at the same venue.

Netflix are now hoping to make another massive play in the sport.

They recently landed the rights for Taylor and Serrano’s trilogy on July 11.

And, according to Sports Illustrated, they are also targeting Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.

While Canelo and Crawford have reportedly signed an agreement for a blockbuster showdown in September, providing the unified super middleweight champion beats William Scull on May 3, Fury vs Joshua is currently off the table.

Fury announced his retirement from professional boxing in January after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for a second time.

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh was said to be preparing a mammoth two-fight deal for a clash with AJ.

However, those plans have now been put on hold.

Fury has retired before swiftly reversing his decision three times and Alalshikh seemingly hasn’t given up hope that the same will happen again.

“I want Tyson [next for Joshua],” Alalshikh told The Stomping Ground.

“I spoke with him, but I don’t talk about boxing. I just checked about his health and his family.

“I think maybe he’ll return. Yes, [I think he will return], I hope so.”

Fury vs Joshua is no longer the fight it once was when both men held all four-belts in the heavyweight division, but it is still undoubtedly one of the biggest boxing attractions.

It has the potential to draw in even more views than Paul vs Tyson, but organisers will have to get a move on if they hope to get the domestic dust-up over the line.

Joshua is set to return this summer, with his promoter Eddie Hearn recently telling talkSPORT.com that Martin Bakole, Deontay Wilder, Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker are all potential options.

Anthony Joshua has not fought since September 2024 but has been bumped up the world heavyweight rankings.

At this stage, the former two-time world champion is in the autumn of his career. His attempt to become three-time world champion ended in disaster last time out when he was knocked down early and then stopped in the fifth round by IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.

Prior to that he had lost back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022 but rebuilt with four wins over lower level opposition including Robert Helenius, Jermaine Franklin, Otto Wallin and UFC star turned boxing novice Francis Ngannou.

Right now ‘AJ’ is assessing his options. One possibility is a rematch with Dubois, though many in the boxing world hoped he would finally have a showdown with long time rival Tyson Fury.

Fury put paid to that however when he announced his retirement in early January, just days after his own second straight loss to Usyk – though many believe that was a negotiating tactic to get more money for a fight with ‘AJ.’

Anthony Joshua 

Back in February, Joshua was ranked by the WBC, a belt he has never won, at 5th below Agit Kabayel, Zhilei Zhang, Lawrence Okolie and Matin Bakole.

The rankings have been updated for March and Usyk remains at the top, though Joshua has moved up to the second spot only behind number one Lawrence Okolie, a former WBC cruiserweight champion who has only had one fight at heavyweight. Kabayel now holds the Interim belt, and losses for Bakole and Zhang in February have seen them drop down.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has said he would be open to an interim title fight between ‘AJ’ and Kabayel, meaning the Brit’s best route back to the top may be to roll the dice against the dangerous body puncher and hope for the full title to become vacant when Usyk retires in the near future.

Claressa Shields has built an extraordinary legacy in boxing, but her personal life has recently eclipsed her athletic achievements in public discourse.

The multi-division world champion finds herself at the center of controversy due to her relationship with Brooklyn rapper Papoose and the involvement of his estranged wife, Remy Ma. While Shields’ dominance in the ring remains undisputed, her private life has become the subject of intense speculation, fueled by social media and celebrity gossip.

During a recent appearance on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, the conversation took an unexpected turn when host Keke Palmer asked Shields, “When are you going to knock out Remy Ma?”

The question, though playful, underscored the intrigue surrounding Shields’ entanglement with Papoose and Remy Ma. Palmer’s blunt inquiry mirrored the ongoing discussions that have kept fans and media fixated on the unfolding drama.

Shields’ romance with Papoose surfaced publicly in 2024, shocking many who had long associated the rapper with his marriage to Remy Ma. The revelation ignited widespread debate, particularly after Remy Ma confirmed the affair via social media.

What followed was a media firestorm dissecting the complicated relationships among the three figures. The situation intensified when Shields and Papoose began making more frequent public appearances together, including at Hawaii Fest in early 2025, signaling that their relationship was far from a fleeting rumor.

Claressa Shields 
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 15: Claressa Shields celebrates after victory in the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO World Middleweight Title fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall on the Shields vs Marshall Boxxer fight night which is the first women’s only boxing card in the UK at The O2 Arena on October 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Despite the controversy, Shields has largely maintained her composure, focusing on her boxing career while selectively addressing the speculation. Her ability to navigate the chaos with poise has only added to the public’s fascination. The dynamic between Shields, Papoose, and Remy Ma has evolved into an ongoing narrative, captivating audiences beyond the sports and music industries.

Palmer’s question, though lighthearted, reignited interest in the situation, reinforcing how Shields’ personal life has become as much of a headline-grabber as her accolades in the ring. While some fans saw the humor in the moment, others interpreted it as a reflection of the unresolved tensions at play. The exchange demonstrated how Shields, despite her fierce reputation in boxing, now finds herself battling an entirely different kind of public scrutiny.

As speculation continues, one thing remains certain: Claressa Shields commands attention, whether in the ring or in the headlines. While her relationship with Papoose fuels debate, her resilience—both professionally and personally—remains a defining trait.

Regardless of how this chapter in her life unfolds, Shields’ legacy in boxing is secure, but her personal narrative ensures she will remain a central figure in cultural discussions for the foreseeable future.

Ryan Garcia is finally making his return to the ring after a long layoff. The reason? A year ago, he tested positive for the PED ostarine. Even though he dropped Devin Haney three times in their April fight, the whole thing got wiped off the record as a no-contest. And just like that, Garcia found himself sidelined for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission. But now? The suspension will be over in April, and he’ll be back in business.

In just two months, he’ll headline His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s first-ever Ring Magazine USA event at Times Square in New York. He’s set to face former WBA junior welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in the main event of Fatal Fury, while Devin Haney takes on Jose Ramirez in the co-main event. Moreover, Teofimo Lopez will also defend his WBO and Ring junior welterweight belts against Arnold Barboza Jr.

Now, here’s where things get spicy. With the fight night less than two months away, both Garcia and Haney were recently in New York to promote the event. It all started when the host of the press conference asked Haney’s opponent if he thinks The Dream has a good enough chin after suffering three knockdowns against Ryan Garcia. Jose Ramirez replied that he plans to test Haney’s chin. “Of course, I’m gonna test his chin. It’s my job,” Ramirez responded. This set Haney off, and he shot back immediately. His response to the apparent disrespect is what prompted Claressa Shields to chime in with her take.

Earlier today, she took to her X and said, “Facts,” resharing a post by the Ring Magazine. The post from the Ring Magazine read, “Devin Haney dismisses suggestions he could be ‘chinny’ and takes a jab at Ryan Garcia”. It shared what the 26-year-old responded during the Fatal Fury Press Conference in New York. Fumed by the insinuations, he had fired back: “I don’t understand what you mean by chin. I got up every single time against someone who was on PEDs. So I showed I got a chin.” But that wasn’t all.

Claressa Shields 

Funny enough, despite being free to fight, The Dream has also stayed away from the ring since their April showdown. Instead, he’s been biding his time, waiting for the right opponent and the perfect moment to make his return. Originally, he had his sights set on a March comeback, but fate had other plans. Now, with a shot at taking down the 32-year-old Ramirez, the 26-year-old is feeling confident. However, despite their animosity, other than the above statement, the two long-time rivals, Garcia and Haney, surprisingly kept it very civil during the press conference. The reason?

Ryan Garcia is trying to stay clear of legal issues

A few hours before the press conference, Ryan Garcia sat down with The Ring. Naturally, the conversation turned to him and Devin Haney sharing the same card on May 2 in Times Square. The reporter pointed out how both fighters have kept it “classy” during the recent press events, despite their long-standing beef. “He is suing me,” the Victorville native stated as the reason for him not indulging Haney in any trash-talk. The 26-year-old even joked, “Everything I’ve said is now used against me.” At one point, he called Haney a “bi**h”, then laughed it off like, “maybe he’ll sue me for saying that. Who knows, he might use that in the deposition.”

The way Ryan Garcia sees it, Devin Haney’s more focused on legal paperwork than throwing punches. And honestly? Ryan Garcia is over the trash talk. If Haney beats Jose Ramirez and Garcia takes down Rolly Romero, we’re looking at a rematch that fans have been dying to see since their first bout in April last year. But this time, no more words—just fists flying. “I don’t have to say anything more. I already proved it. I already beat his a**,” Ryan Garcia declared defiantly. It seems this cold war will continue for a while, at least until the two manage to do away with their current opponents come fight night in May.

So, what do you think? Who wins the rematch?

Like the majority of Brits, Amir Khan wants to see Tyson Fury come out of retirement to face Anthony Joshua.

The two rivals have never made it through the ropes together despite walking similar paths to heavyweight glory, often simultaneously.

Although both men have been relieved of their championship belts by elite Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, the long-awaited clash looked more likely than ever this year with no mandatory commitments, rematch clauses or world title shots on the horizon.

That was until Fury – who was beaten twice in 2024 by Usyk – announced his retirement in January. It left Joshua, coming off a bruising knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, without a big fight on the horizon and now searching for an alternative opponent.

Speaking to the Lancashire Post, former world champion Khan – who had his own all-British showdown with Kell Brook in 2022 – said that fans would see a full twelve should the pair manage to sign the fight, revealing that he backs Fury if his confidence is intact.

“It’ll be a good, close fight. I think it will go the distance, but it will be good to see because both fighters are at a good level. Anthony Joshua has had some good wins (before Daniel Dubois) and looked really good and revived.

“Then you look at Tyson Fury. He has to be in that type of position to make it a close fight with Anthony Joshua. If Fury is still at the top and has all of the confidence, then I think Fury wins that fight all day long. But with the last two fights, it’s even and is a 50/50 fight now.”

Though ‘AJ’s most recent defeat was much less competitive than that of ‘The Gypsy King’s, Khan advised the Morecambe man to have a tune-up fight before the blockbuster clash.

“Mentally, Fury may have been really impacted and that’s normal. I’m not talking bad about him but it’s normal and happened to me.

“When I had that fight loss against Lamont Peterson, mentally I was done. Even though I knew I was a better fighter than Danny Garcia, he beat me and knocked me out. I was outboxing him and destroying him but it’s life.

“I feel Fury needs to come back and have one or two fights and then take the AJ fight. But knowing Fury with the b**** he has got, he will want to jump straight into that fight which would be very hard.”

Joshua is expected to make a decision on his next opponent soon, with promoter Eddie Hearn eyeing a Dubois rematch should Fury stay retired. However, ‘DDD’ has sights set on an undisputed clash with Usyk, perhaps leaving Joshua out in the cold.

Claressa Shields Takes 4-Word Dig at Amanda Serrano After Jake Paul Spends Over $4.5M To Break Ronda Rousey’s UFC Record

When Amanda Serrano entered her first professional fight in 2009, it was on the back of a measly $1200 payment. Having come from a boxing background that could hardly be described as traditional, her long journey often included—but was not limited to—financial hardships. After her family moved to New York in the early 1990s, Serrano remembers passing by the Madison Square Garden a couple hundred times. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine that would be the same building where she’d make history in 2022 with a first women headlined fightcard against Katie Taylor. But looks like Serrano’s not done making history, and neither is Clarissa Shields done taking shots…

Fondly calling herself the GWOAT, Claressa Shields (16-0-0, 3 KOs) has always been a notch above the rest. Talk about two Olympic gold medals (2012 and 2016), being the only undisputed champion (man or woman) in three different divisions in the four-belt era, or being a former unified super middleweight champion, and the list doesn’t end. Yet, her reception has to mega stardom has been slow—many will agree. So, frustrations are bound to boil over, as they often do, featuring Shields’ classic I don’t care mentality, and hostility wrapped in humor. The same happened after Serrano made rewrote history once again.

On March 5, Jake Paul announced to the world that the Puerto Rican would “become the highest paid woman in sports history for a single event. ALL SPORTS” when she participates in the third fight of the trilogy against Taylor on July 11. And only a day later, the GWOAT took to X to tweet some choice words.

In the first tweet, Shields mentioned, “I only talk to undefeated fighters! If you’re not undefeated, please don’t talk to me! I’m bout to call Mayweather 🏆👸🏾👑,” the 29-year-old wrote. Promptly, a fan responded to her, urging her to take up a bout against Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs) by cutting weight. “You see cyborg calling serrano the gwoat? You gotta step down and get at her,” the fan wrote—a statement whose legitimacy cannot be guaranteed. However, ‘T-Rex’ remained undeterred and laughed off the prospect of facing Serrano. “She not undefeated either 😂😂,” Shields answered back, making her stance clear about her counterpart. Notably, this is just one dig directed amid a slew of statements the Olympian made toward the upcoming fight.

A day earlier, Paul had shared another tweet showcasing a poster of the two fighters. One X user had shared the update and tagged Shields, asking, “Will @Claressashields be included?? 👀” The fighter replied back with her usual swagger, “I fight main events sugar. I actually have a big one planned.” 

Then in January this year, talking about a potential between her and Serrano, Shields had once again firmly rejected it while taking a dig, in an interview DAZN boxing. She stated how Serrano “will not fight me at any weight class, even if I was to make 140 or 147.”

As for the Puerto Rican phenom—who signed a lifetime deal with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in 2021—she is hardly going to lose any sleep over it, given the massive payday waiting for her. July 11 will see her earn more than Ronda Rousey‘s staggering $4.5 million payday for her UFC 193 fight in 2015 vs Holly Holm, which the latter won with a knockout. While the exact figure has not been disclosed, several reports say it will be more that the $6 million Taylor will be taking home. And as expected, the fighter didn’t leave any stones unturned when thanking her boss for it.

Claressa Shields

 

Talking about Jake, Serrano said, “Jake coming into my life and into my career. He changed it 100 per cent…My first fight with Jake Paul was the biggest payday that I ever received, and he decided that he wanted to do that for all the fighters on the card, and from there, it just kept getting bigger and bigger.”

On a separate note, that’s not the only thing Claressa Shields is in the headlines for…

Claressa Shields facing suspension over a banned substance

Claressa Shields is probably the greatest female boxer of all time. The Flint, Michigan native has been an absolute trailblazer in female boxing.

But, the 29-year-old finds her reputation in dire straits at the moment as she is facing suspension after her last fight- a unanimous decision win over Danielle Perkins earlier this last month. After the fight, it was revealed that ‘T-Rex’ tested positive in an oral sample for marijuana, which has led to her being handed a suspension by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission from fighting in the state for the time being.

The fighter has maintained that she did not ingest marijuana and claims that the positive test may be because of second-hand smoke she inhaled at the venue. “The place [Dort Financial Center] reeked of marijuana. And then, before I got to do the mouth swab, everybody was hugging and kissing me in Flint. Everybody there—my cousins, sister, brother, friends—everybody was hugging and kissing me. And I know some boxers don’t stop and greet the fans, but I’m not one of them. I hugged and kissed everybody back,” she told Tamron Hall in a recent interview.

Shields has appealed the suspension and has thirty days to clear her name. Having said that, what do you think about Claressa Shields’ take on Amanda Serrano-Katie Taylor 3?