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Anthony Joshua could receive a career-high pay day to fight Jake Paul as their teams continue to hold talks over a bout in 2026.<\/b><\/p>\n
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, says it is likely the fight could be the Briton’s next.<\/p>\n
Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion with 32 professional fights, while American Paul, who rose to fame on YouTube,<\/a> has 13 bouts to his name.<\/p>\n “At first I thought it was a publicity stunt from Jake and now the more I speak to them the more I actually understand – Jake Paul thinks he can beat Anthony Joshua,” Hearn told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n “This is a step too far. So be careful what you wish for, because this isn’t a game.<\/p>\n “This isn’t YouTube. This isn’t Disney. This is the danger zone.”<\/p>\n Both teams denied conditions could be part of the fight, like when Paul fought long-retired and then 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November.<\/a><\/p>\n That contest had bigger gloves and a maximum of eight rounds, each limited to two minutes.<\/p>\n Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bardian, who set up MVP with 28-year-old Paul, says he is “not worried about safety at all”.<\/p>\n “This would be pursued as a straight up professional fight,” said Bidarian.<\/p>\n “I think there’s certainly an experience gap between the two of them in terms of where they’re at in their career.<\/p>\n “From my prospective, Joshua’s an active heavyweight.<\/p>\n “The likelihood of Anthony Joshua being able to land a heavyweight punch is much higher than what Mike Tyson had.<\/p>\n “I want to give Jake as much time as possible to improve on his boxing skillset to be able to effectively neutralise that main attribute of Anthony Joshua.<\/p>\n “My ask of him is to wait longer to do it. But when an opportunity is there, sometimes if you don’t take it, it never comes back.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n