Anthony Joshua’s recent record shows three losses in his last seven bouts, and he has been absent from the ring since his defeat to Daniel Dubois over a year prior.
The window is closing on the potential Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul fight slated for December.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, informed BBC Sport on Thursday that negotiations face a stringent deadline, as MVP promotions intends to announce Paul’s next opponent by Monday.
Hearn has previously downplayed reports of an imminent agreement, noting that Paul is engaged in discussions with other potential rivals.
Should the fight materialize, it would mark a pinnacle in Paul’s boxing career, despite his sole loss to Tommy Fury. However, the question remains: what would it signify for Joshua?
Joshua, 36, remains focused on securing major fights within the heavyweight division, with Hearn expressing hopes of finalizing a match against Tyson Fury by 2026.
He has also contemplated collaborating with current champion Oleksandr Usyk’s training team, having suffered two defeats against the Ukrainian in 2021 and 2022.
Therefore, the question arises: does engaging in what appears to be a lucrative tune-up fight against Paul compromise the perception of his seriousness as a contender in the future?
“Is it somewhat of a spectacle? Undoubtedly,” states former WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla. “I find it to be an absurd situation, and I’ll only believe it once I witness it.
“It would be an exceptionally risky fight. If Jake Paul were to sustain any significant injuries, numerous individuals would face serious scrutiny.
“Anyone with boxing knowledge cannot permit this to be promoted as a legitimate contest. I consider it madness, but will I watch it? Likely, out of sheer curiosity.”
It remains unclear whether knockouts would be permissible, as the fight would necessitate arrangement as an exhibition unless sanctioned as a professional bout by a local commission.
Last year, Texas sanctioned Paul’s fight against former world champion Mike Tyson, then 58 years old, as a professional fight but with “certain waivers.”
That contest comprised only eight, two-minute rounds, and 14oz gloves were utilized instead of the standard 10oz.
In August, Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bardian, who co-founded MVP with 28-year-old Paul, stated that they “would pursue a straight up professional fight” when questioned about the possibility of the Joshua fight, while Hearn has maintained that Joshua would not entertain an exhibition bout.
This video can not be played
Eddie Hearn suggests that a fight between Joshua and Paul is a ‘possibility’
“I don’t believe it will damage his career or tarnish his legacy,” asserts David Price, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist.
“People will not remember Anthony Joshua for knocking out Jake Paul. George Foreman and Muhammad Ali participated in fad events and fought journeymen, which are now largely forgotten.”
A bout between the two, reportedly destined for Netflix, could earn Joshua tens of millions of pounds, representing one of the most substantial paydays of his distinguished career.
Paul’s fight with Tyson last autumn attracted 108 million viewers on the platform, with the YouTuber reportedly earning £31m and Tyson receiving approximately half that amount.
“The heavyweight division is currently stagnant, with little significant activity,” Price added.
“Joshua finds himself in a precarious position, reluctant to descend to fighting an emerging British heavyweight, as it offers him no advantages.
“So, if he is going to lower his level of competition, why not do so against someone he will receive a massive fee for defeating without any risk?
“People will tune in because they want to witness Paul being soundly beaten. I cannot fault Joshua for that.”
Paul defeated a 58-year-old Tyson on points a year ago in a fight widely ridiculed and deemed “tedious.”
Influencer boxing matches began to gain significant viewership with KSI’s inaugural boxing match against Joe Weller in 2018 and have since become more prevalent, with fighters of notable reputation increasingly willing to participate due to the financial incentives.
Simultaneously, boxing’s reputation has suffered due to challenges in arranging high-profile fights and the influx of capital from Saudi Arabia, which has emerged as a prominent player in the professional arena.
Some argue that influencer fights attract new fans and contribute to safeguarding the sport’s future, while others contend that they render it a laughing stock.
“Jake Paul has made substantial contributions to boxing, particularly women’s boxing,” Crolla notes. “He is organizing significant events and attracting new individuals to the sport.
“I worked at his fight with Tommy Fury, and numerous young children approached me exclaiming, ‘You were at the fight!’ They didn’t even recognize me from my own career.”
However, the benefits of prominent figures like Paul entering the ring come at the expense of heritage and tradition.
“It does trivialize the sport,” Price concedes. “I witnessed Rod Stewart’s son being knocked out the other day; such occurrences do transform it into a joke.
“The sport has progressed this far without such events, so I don’t believe they are necessary for boxing’s survival.
“But the slight possibility that an influencer might knock someone out is what compels many people to tune in. It’s a new generation of fight fans, and, whether one likes it or not, viewership matters.
“The old-school fighter who maintained a low profile, worked diligently, and let his actions speak in the ring is, regrettably, a dying breed.”
Boxing schedule and results 2025
Watch every Born to Brawl episode
Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Comments can not be loaded
To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser