Joshua V Paul? Hearn Says 'maybe' With Camps In Talks

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is successful talks to conflict YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Joshua, 36, has not fought since he was stopped successful nan 5th information by British rival Daniel Dubois successful September past year.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, said successful August it was apt Joshua's adjacent conflict would beryllium against Paul - and connected Thursday confirmed that talks had taken spot betwixt nan 2 camps.

Media outlets reported connected Wednesday that a conflict betwixt nan brace was almost a done deal, but Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast that "everyone has jumped nan gun" pinch these claims.

"Our attraction is connected 2026," added Hearn. "We person a large conflict planned for February and a large conflict hopefully against Tyson Fury adjacent year.

"We whitethorn tally retired successful 2025. We were conscionable going to person a debased cardinal conflict location - if that is going to destruct nan tally of Mr Paul and make tens of millions of dollars successful nan process, past maybe. Nothing is confirmed yet."

Any conflict betwixt nan brace would look sanctioning questions fixed nan quality successful acquisition betwixt nan 2 fighters and is improbable to beryllium considered arsenic a master bout. An accumulation conflict is nan astir plausible outcome.

Paul, 28, was owed to look lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis successful an accumulation bout connected 14 November earlier nan conflict was cancelled.

The determination came aft a suit was revenge against Davis by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of battery, aggravated battery, mendacious imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of affectional distress.

Olympic golden medallist Joshua won his first world title, nan IBF belt, successful 2016, adding nan WBO and WBA crowns complete nan adjacent 2 years earlier losing each 3 successful a daze conclusion by Andy Ruiz Jr successful 2019.

He regained each 3 belts successful a rematch against Ruiz later that twelvemonth and defended them against Kubrat Pulev, earlier back-to-back defeats by existent undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua past went connected a tally of 4 consecutive wins until he was dismantled by Dubois astatine Wembley Stadium, leaving his early nether scrutiny, pinch his grounds astatine 28 wins and 4 defeats.

Paul has 12 wins and 1 nonaccomplishment successful his master boxing profession - that conclusion coming against Fury's relative Tommy by divided determination successful 2023.

However, he has only fought astatine heavyweight erstwhile before, a drab points triumph complete a past 58-year-old Mike Tyson successful November 2024.