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Anthony Joshua backed to ‘spark’ Jake Paul in 1 minute as fight talks continue in new update

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Ross Markey | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 12:29 PM ET

Former world champion Anthony Joshua looks set to receive a sizable payday if he does secure a rumored showdown with the polarizing Jake Paul.

Missing out on a pairing with the brash boxer later this year, former two-time world titleholder Anthony Joshua was initially linked to a showdown with Jake Paul toward the end of the summer, until the pairing hit the skids.

Instead, the Ohio native will now share the ring with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in another exhibition pairing next month, while Joshua remains gung-ho on a 2026 return to the ring.

However, in a new update, a showdown between Joshua and Paul is still very much on the table — with the Watford star facing a massive payout if he lands the showdown.

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Eddie Hearn reveals $100 million payday for Anthony Joshua in Jake Paul fight

Expected to take a warm-up fight in his immediate return to the ring, Joshua has so far failed to secure an opponent for his return to action.

However, according to Matchroom Boxing’s leader Eddie Hearn, Joshua is not giving up the chase on a lucrative clash with Paul — which could net him in the region of $100 million.

As far as Hearn is concerned too, if Paul emerges unscathed from his fight with ‘Tank’, a pairing with Joshua is possible — especially given his brash pre-fight prediction.

“The conversation continues with Nakisa (Badarian) and Jake Paul,” Hearn told TMZ Sports. “They’re telling me, they want to do the Anthony Joshua fight — I have told them if they get chinned by Gervonta Davis, who weighs 135lbs — how could we possibly do an Anthony Joshua fight?

“…Look, AJ wants to fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn continued. “That’s the biggest fight out there right now, but listen, if someone wants to give us $100 million to spark Jake Paul inside a minute, who would turn that down?”

Eddie Hearn claims Tyson Fury is delaying Anthony Joshua fight

On a collision course more often than not since their respective world title reigns in the 2010s, spectacularly, Joshua and Fury have so far failed to share the ring.

And hopeful of finally booking the duo in an overdue pairing next summer, Hearn was less than pleased with the latest developments from team Fury.

Targeting an alternate fight rather than a pairing with Olympic hero Joshua in his return, Hearn blasted an “uninteresting” fight between the Morecambe native and a rather familiar foe.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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