Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are finalizing negotiations for a heavyweight boxing fight in Miami, according to reports.
The blockbuster showdown will take place in December and will be broadcast on Netflix – much like how Paul’s bout with Gervota Davis had been planned.
Paul had been scheduled to face American rival Davis this Saturday night, but the bout was cancelled due to allegations of domestic violence that the latter faces.
Now, according to Ring Magazine, Paul has turned his attention to British star Joshua and negotiations regarding the bout are entering the final stages.
The news comes just days after Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, hinted at a potential bout against Paul and spoke of the British star’s need for a ‘run-out’ fight.
Hearn said on Tuesday: ‘We will make a decision this week on Anthony’s next fight. If he fights this year, you probably won’t even hear about it, unless it’s Jake Paul.
‘We would literally rock up on fight week. We’ve already got opponents that we’ve been talking to about a run-out fight,’ the Mathroom Boxing chief said.
Hearn’s comments have lead fans to believe that any bout between the two would in-fact be deemed an exhibition – similarly to how Paul’s bout with Davis was planned.
Further details are yet to be announced but fans will certainly be intrigued to discover the weight restrictions that will be in place, given the size difference between the two.
In Paul’s most recent bout against Julio Chavez Jr, he weighed in at 199.4lbs. Meanwhile, in Joshua’s last fight against Daniel Dubois, he weighed in at 252lbs 5oz.
However, in Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson last year, he managed to bulk up an immense amount and weighed in at 220lbs, which he will likely have to do again.
Though the bout will bring initial shock to boxing fans, some sense can be made in the fact that both fighters have found themselves at a crossroads in 2025.
After defeating boxing legend Tyson, 59, in November last year, Paul returned to the ring in the summer, where he defeated Chavez Jr via unanimous decision.
However, since that victory, the YouTuber-turned-boxer has been on the search for a more credible opponent and had WBA lightweight champion Davis in his sights.
After months of preparations and smack-talking between the two Americans, the bout was cancelled last week due to the domestic violence allegations looming over Davis.
In the days that have followed, Paul went on a social media tirade, calling out some of boxing’s biggest names – including one of Joshua’s old foes; Francis Ngannou.
Paul and former UFC star Ngannou traded words over social media before conducting an interview with TMZ that entirely shut down talks of a fight.
Joshua, meanwhile, will be looking to shake off 13 months of ring-rust when he takes on Paul, having not fought since his defeat to British rival Daniel Dubois last year.
The Watford fighter was brutally knocked in the fifth round of their bout, which derailed hopes of him mounting a charge for the heavyweight titles.
More to follow…
