Eddie Hearn believes a fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua could happen, as both parties seem interested, with Joshua open to fighting anyone and Hearn acknowledging the potential for massive viewership.
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua? Eddie Hearn thinks it could happen. Wild, right?
The Matchroom Boxing chairman recently chimed in on Paul’s bold claim. Paul confidently stated he would “f*cking beat Anthony Joshua’s ass.” Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champ, is fresh off a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and is hunting for his next big fight. If Paul’s team is serious, so is Hearn.
“Honestly, I see it as pure banter,” Hearn remarked on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel. “A.J. would fight Jake Paul. Heck, he’d fight anyone, honestly. But if Jake wants to face Joshua, he’ll need the right insurance.”
Hearn was a bit miffed about the timeline though. “2026? That’s like me planning for L.A. Olympics surfing in 2028,” he joked. “Do it in 2025 if you’re serious. You won’t get much better by then anyway.” After chatting with A.J., he added, “Of course I’d fight him,” said Joshua.
Paul, once just a YouTuber, has turned into one of boxing’s major attractions. His recent bout with the legendary 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November? A record-smashing event streamed on Netflix that grabbed massive attention.
Hearn is open to collaborating with Paul and believes Joshua would be too. “Jake knows how to create massive events,” Hearn acknowledged. “It’ll draw unbelievable viewership. No shade on Jake, but it’d be an easy night for us.”
He continued, “I love this calling out of Canelo [Alvarez] and all that jazz. A.J.’s another challenge up there. If they’re down for it, why not?”
Joshua himself hasn’t directly addressed Paul’s comments yet; Hearn’s speaking on his behalf for now. Whether it’s Paul or someone else, Joshua’s eager to return to the ring.
“[Joshua] said, ‘Why not?’” Hearn shared. “When I asked what I should tell people, he replied, ‘Tell everyone I’ll fight anyone, anytime—it’s no problem for me.’”