Anthony Joshua is at a key moment in his boxing career, as serious talks continue about a possible fight with YouTuber Jake Paul. But promoter Frank Warren has warned that taking on the 28-year-old internet star could hurt Joshua’s reputation, especially when fans are still hoping for a big fight with Tyson Fury.

Joshua, 35, from Watford, won a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics and became world champion twice. However, he hasn’t had a major win since he beat Andy Ruiz Jr in their 2019 rematch.

He lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk and was knocked out by Daniel Dubois last September. Now, instead of a top-level opponent, talks are moving fast for a fight with Jake Paul – a match many are calling a “circus.”

Frank Warren, the 73-year-old legendary boxing promoter, said Joshua’s career deserves better.

“He’s done brilliantly,” Warren told SunSport. “He should’ve won the amateur world championships, and he brought a lot of attention to boxing after winning gold at the Olympics. He’s had some great fights.”

Warren says the fight fans really want is an all-British heavyweight clash between Joshua and Tyson Fury – a fight that has been talked about for nearly 10 years.

“It’s the fight everyone’s wanted for years,” Warren said. “But who knows if it will ever happen.”

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has admitted that Joshua’s final fight could depend on whether Fury, 37, agrees to it. Fury has retired several times, made a Netflix series, and even renewed his wedding vows again.

Warren said Fury is still training regularly but the choice to return is entirely up to him.

“When I’ve spoken to him recently, he has mentioned fighting,” Warren said. “But I’m not going to push him – it’s his decision.”

“He goes to the gym often. It keeps him fit and helps his mental health, which is great.”

What are the obstacles that could hinder the fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua?

One of the possible 2026 fights that has caught the eye is the one that could be presented between the former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, who has been sought by YouTuber Jake Paul, who in 12 fights has attracted attention in the world of boxing. However, this fight faces some uncertainties despite “advanced” negotiations between both sides.

The long-awaited showdown between the Briton and the American has caught the attention of Turki Alalkashik, who has become the top boxing promoter today and is willing to support the holding of this fight. Eddie Hearn, representative and promoter of Anthony Joshua, and Nakisa Bidarian in the same way with Jake Paul have found significant obstacles, even when negotiations are going well.

The barriers that could prevent a fight between Joshua vs Paul

Eddie Hearn recently commented on the state of negotiations. “I would say we are very advanced in terms of money. It’s probably the word that those looking for positive news would use. I never expected this fight to take place, but honestly, the more conversations I have, the more I think there is a good chance it will happen,” said the boxing promoter.

However, one of the key problems for the possible fight is sanctioning. According to Sky Sports News, there is no guarantee that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) will approve the fight, especially if it is held in England or some of its territories. Wembley Stadium has been mooted as a possible venue for the eagerly awaited bout. But with the BBBofC refusing to sanction the fight, this episode of boxing will have to be postponed.

Eddie Hearn explained that for the fight to take place in the UK, they would need to apply for a special exemption from the Board, which adds uncertainty to the venue and logistics of the event. He therefore suggested that it is more likely that the fight will be held in the United States, where Jake Paul is a big draw. Paul has filled major stadiums such as the Honda Center in Anaheim and the Amalie Arena in Tampa. His previous fight with Mike Tyson attracted more than 72,000 spectators to AT&T Stadium.

Holding the fight in the United States would circumvent the regulatory hurdles imposed by the BBBofC, but could complicate logistics for Joshua and his team. However, this would be solved with the increase in purses and even in Las Vegas, Nevada, there would be a greater cash flow which will allow Joshua’s team to cover the travel, logistics and preparation expenses of the British boxer.

Two-time WBC interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte has thrown his support behind a potential bout between former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, insisting it would make financial sense for both men.

Whyte, a 37-year-old Jamaican-British heavyweight boxer, told the BBC that while the matchup might raise eyebrows, the business side makes it worthwhile.

“It’s a business, man. If [Joshua v Paul] makes sense and does numbers, why not?” Whyte said. “[Joshua] has won the championship twice, had a lot of fights and done a lot, so I don’t know. I’m sure he’ll make more money than he did in some of his title fights. Sometimes, if you can make some money, then make some money.”

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently revealed talks are ongoing, claiming Paul genuinely believes he can beat the former heavyweight champion.

“At first I thought it was a publicity stunt from Jake, but now the more I speak to them, the more I actually understand; Jake Paul thinks he can beat Anthony Joshua,” Hearn told the BBC.

Whyte also touched on his own unfinished business with Joshua, expressing a desire to avenge his seventh-round knockout defeat in 2015 when the pair fought for the British heavyweight title.
“I would love to have a chance to right my wrong,” Whyte said.

Fresh details have emerged regarding the prospective crossover mega-fight involving the former unified world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, and creator-turned-prospect Jake Paul.

The bout would represent one of the more improbable bookings in the modern era but, considering Joshua has already taken on the former UFC star Francis Ngannou, and won, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that he collide with Paul, too. It would be, without question, the toughest test of Paul’s career, as the 28-year-old has mostly feasted on former MMA fighters or past-prime boxers, with wins over Mike Perry, Mike Tyson, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, to date.

Joshua, meanwhile, is in the midst of a rebuild following a brutal loss to Daniel Dubois in which he was beaten from pillar to post in every minute of every round. He had previously embarked on a four-fight winning streak, including victories over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin, to go along with his historical wins over Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin.

As “discussions” involving representatives of both fighters are ongoing, Paul’s business partner, Nikisa Bidarian, has shared key details of the super-fight.