Anthony Joshua is reportedly considering a fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul after struggling to secure bouts with top-tier opponents. The two-time world champion had been seeking matches with Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, and Joseph Parker, but these fighters are currently committed to other engagements.
"This is very real. I had a good chat for about an hour with Nakisa on July 30 and now I think they really want the fight. I really do," said Eddie Hearn, Joshua's long-time promoter, who described the potential heavyweight clash as "mental, crazy and dangerous."
The size and experience gap between the fighters is substantial. Joshua stands at 6-foot-6 and has a professional record of 28-4 with 25 knockouts, including victories over boxing giants like Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, and Kubrat Pulev. He also boasts an Olympic gold medal from 2012. In contrast, Paul is considerably lighter, weighing just under 200 pounds compared to Joshua's 252 pounds in his last fight.
Paul, 28, has been steadily building his boxing resume. His most recent bout was in June against former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., which he won by unanimous decision. Before that, he defeated 59-year-old Mike Tyson over eight two-minute rounds last November.
Interestingly, both fighters are coming off different career trajectories. Joshua hasn't competed since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in June last year, when he attempted to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
According to Hearn, Paul's business partner Nakisa Bidarian expressed concerns about the match-up but indicated that Paul genuinely believes he can be competitive against Joshua. The promoter seemed optimistic about the discussions, describing the initial conversation as "very positive" and expecting talks to continue in the coming weeks.
Could this unusual pairing actually make it to the ring? With both fighters available and the potential for massive public interest, what seems like a mismatch on paper might soon become reality.
