'this Isn't Youtube' - Talks Continue For Joshua V Paul

Anthony Joshua could person a career-high salary time to conflict Jake Paul arsenic their teams proceed to clasp talks complete a bout successful 2026.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, says it is apt nan conflict could beryllium nan Briton's next.

Joshua is simply a two-time heavyweight world champion pinch 32 master fights, while American Paul, who rose to fame connected YouTube, has 13 bouts to his name.

"At first I thought it was a publicity stunt from Jake and now nan much I speak to them nan much I really understand - Jake Paul thinks he tin hit Anthony Joshua," Hearn told BBC Sport.

"This is simply a measurement excessively far. So beryllium observant what you wish for, because this isn't a game.

"This isn't YouTube. This isn't Disney. This is nan threat zone."

Both teams denied conditions could beryllium portion of nan fight, for illustration erstwhile Paul fought long-retired and past 58-year-old Mike Tyson past November.

That title had bigger gloves and a maximum of 8 rounds, each constricted to 2 minutes.

Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bardian, who group up MVP pinch 28-year-old Paul, says he is "not worried astir information astatine all".

"This would beryllium pursued arsenic a consecutive up master fight," said Bidarian.

"I deliberation there's surely an acquisition spread betwixt nan 2 of them successful position of wherever they're astatine successful their career.

"From my prospective, Joshua's an progressive heavyweight.

"The likelihood of Anthony Joshua being capable to onshore a heavyweight punch is overmuch higher than what Mike Tyson had.

"I want to springiness Jake arsenic overmuch clip arsenic imaginable to amended connected his boxing skillset to beryllium capable to efficaciously neutralise that main property of Anthony Joshua.

"My inquire of him is to hold longer to do it. But erstwhile an opportunity is there, sometimes if you don't return it, it ne'er comes back."

Hearn besides acknowledged nan conflict would look disapproval should it beryllium made.

In Japan, location was a timely reminder of nan dangers of nan athletics arsenic super-featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari died from injuries he sustained successful a bout earlier this month.

Paul has fought galore ex-MMA fighters successful boxing, has competed astatine cruiserweight and his single nonaccomplishment was to Tommy Fury.

While nan American has insisted becoming a world champion is his eventual goal, location are fewer successful nan athletics who would opportunity that is possible.

"Do I deliberation he'll spell and triumph world titles? Nope, never," Hearn said.

Bidarian likened nan imaginable match-up to erstwhile ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou crossed into boxing.

"Anthony Joshua fought Francis Ngannou. Francis Ngannou first fought Tyson Fury who galore says is simply a amended boxer than Anthony Joshua and went each 10 rounds," Bidarian said.

"And past had nan opportunity to conflict Anthony Joshua and sewage flatlined. Which happens each nan clip successful boxing."

Hearn and Bidarian some said nan conflict would astir apt return spot astatine a stadium successful nan United States.

As galore arsenic 72,000 group watched Paul and Tyson astatine nan AT&T Stadium successful Texas while Joshua has staged six of his fights astatine different stadiums successful nan UK.

The main information for Joshua is nan prospective conflict purse, which Hearn said could transcend his erstwhile paydays.

Joshua's purses person ne'er been made nationalist aliases verified but his rematch pinch Oleksandr Usyk successful 2022 earned him reportedly arsenic overmuch arsenic £40m.

"Probably correct up location [as his biggest conflict purse]," Hearn said.

"[Usually] nan much vulnerable nan fight, nan bigger you expect nan purse to be, aliases to bespeak that.

"This is really nan opposite. It mightiness beryllium AJ's easiest ever conflict and perchance his biggest payday."