Eddie Hearn has provided more clarity on whether Anthony Joshua could actually fight Jake Paul following speculation of a 2026 bout.
Joshua is yet to fight in 2025 after his defeat to Daniel Dubois via 5th-round knockout at Wembley back in September 2024.
However, despite the inactivity, it is believed the Brit is determined to return to the pinnacle of boxing with the aim of a mega-fight against Tyson Fury.
Due to Joshua's lack of action, it is unlikely he will return to face Fury without getting some more rounds in the tank, and there is a serious possibility they could come against Jake Paul.
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Speaking via ESPN, Hearn revealed there would be no opposition to a potential fight against the US YouTuber.
"If we are going to have a run-out fight, why not run out against Jake Paul for a lot of money?" Hearn explained.
The 46-year-old even claimed there are real negotiations between the two parties to see if a deal is possible.
"There are ongoing conversations there. If he really wants to fight Joshua, I don't see why we wouldn't have a chance to do that fight.
"Our focus is on a charge to the world heavyweight championship, and on Tyson Fury. But we can't control that either.
Hearn added: "There have been conversations with Jake Paul's team. Whether that is a possibility, I don't know."
Paul has been particularly vocal at the prospect of facing the British heavyweight, and told fans that he already had a verbal agreement with Joshua for 2026.
Paul explained: "I talked to Anthony on the phone. He called me up and was like, 'I saw you called me out,' and he said, 'Let's run it … let's make it happen. '
“We’ll fight in 2026. He said he’s going to do two more fights, I’ll do two more fights and then we’ll fight in 2026," he added.
Joshua himself appeared to confirm this by posting a screenshot of the call with the caption '2026' earlier this year.
The Olympic gold medalist has been surprisingly complimentary about Paul's credentials in the media, telling IFL TV this year that the Ohio-born influencer was a positive for boxing.
"He’s good for boxing. He has no amateur background and just jumped straight in. He’s learning under pressure, and that will help him evolve quickly," Joshua explained.
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul, Boxing, Eddie Hearn, Tyson Fury
Tom Jenkins