Heavyweight Showdown: Anthony Joshua to Face YouTube Star Jake Paul in Blockbuster Fight

As of November 13th, 2025, former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is in negotiations for a high-stakes fight against YouTube personality-turned-boxer Jake Paul. According to sources, a gargantuan prize pot of around £140 million has been mooted, with the two fighters set to split the purse evenly.

The potential bout has raised eyebrows among boxing traditionalists, as Paul holds no discernible qualifications to face one of the top heavyweights in the world. However, the 28-year-old has demonstrated significant pulling power through his previous contests, both as an online prankster and more recently in the boxing ring.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that talks are ongoing, though a deal is not yet finalized. Hearn stressed that the fight would not be billed as an exhibition, but rather a sanctioned, professional bout following Queensbury rules.

A key factor behind the negotiations is the desire to broadcast the fight on Netflix, which is currently working with Joshua on a documentary. This aligns with Paul's own interests, as his recent fight against the 58-year-old Mike Tyson was also staged on the streaming platform.

While the lucrative payday is a significant draw for Joshua, who has been licking his wounds since his bruising defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024, the fight is widely expected to be controversial. Paul's 12-1 record has been built primarily against lesser-known opponents and retired stars, with his sole loss coming against Tommy Fury.

Nonetheless, Hearn has acknowledged that the opportunity to earn "50 times more money" than a low-key comeback fight is a temptation that Joshua, as a two-time heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist, would find hard to resist.