JAKE PAUL and Anthony Joshua struck an agreement for their December 19 fight the good old fashioned way – over the phone.
But more fitting to the social media era that has helped Paul become a worldwide superstar, he offered Joshua the bout over Instagram DMs.
Paul was left in need of an opponent after Gervonta Davis was pulled off their November 14 exhibition bout amid allegations of domestic abuse.
And Nakisa Bidarian – the CEO and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul – revealed the American personally reached out to AJ.
He told SunSport: “I would say within kind of 48 hours, he became a serious option because him and Jake DM’d each other and agreed that Joshua would want to do this.
“And that I think is the most important point in all of this is having two parties that want to dance. Ryan Garcia wanted to do it but he wasn’t permitted to do so.
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“I think AJ’s earned the right to do what he wants and to Eddie Hearn’s credit, he supported him and made it happen.”
Paul, 28, first called out Joshua, 36, earlier in the year and made savage digs behind-the-scenes but their latest interaction was far more cordial.
Bidarian revealed: “I think Jake just said, ‘You ready to run it?’ And AJ said, ‘Yeah, I’m down.’ Like in simple terms.
“They DM’d after March. The DM’s in the past were like he laughed at Jake’s training and Jake sent him a video of him getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois.
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“These two had a good relationship before. I think it shocked Joshua when Jake came out and said, ‘I love you, I f*** with you, but I could beat you.’
“And I think there’s still a certain level of respect.”
Bidarian set up MVP – the lead promoters of the fight – in 2021 with Paul – whose only loss in 13 fights came against Tommy Fury in 2023.
He also stands as an advisor to the social media sensation, who is giving away experience, size and skill to Joshua, who brutally flattened ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in 2024.
It begs the question, if a man who can take elbows and kicks to the face could not stand up to AJ’s power, what chance does cruiserweight Paul have?
But Bidarian did not ever advise Paul against the AJ fight, revealing: “I’ve never tried to talk Jake out of anything he wants to do.
“I try to give him my opinion and let him come to a conclusion on it. But this was never a situation where I thought, ‘Oh my God, I have to have this stopped.’
“If anything, it’s the opposite. I kind of look at it like – same as Gervonta by the way – if Jake is thoroughly outclassed or beaten, that will only drive him further?
“That only gets the hunger going more to be more focused. When he lost to Tommy Fury, we had a focused and dedicated Jake Paul in the gym like we’ve never seen before.
I think Jake just said, ‘You ready to run it?’ And AJ said, ‘Yeah, I’m down.’
Nakisa Bidarian
“And so that reinvigorates because you haven’t reached the mountaintop yet.
“Now, if he knocks out Anthony Joshua, does that mean he’s gonna get lazy? No, but he’s probably gonna like enjoy himself for like a month.”
The fight has already garnered criticism due to the size, skill and experience gulf between the two.
But Bidarian hit back: “What about the other guys that Joshua knocked out?
“Are people so concerned about them? No. Nobody cares because it wasn’t Jake Paul no one was talking about.
“Joshua was about to fight a journeyman and probably knock him out silly to make a triumph and return to boxing. Joshua couldn’t knock out a 221lb Oleksandr Usyk.
“Joshua knocked out a 272lb Francis Ngannou – amazing MMA fighter, novice boxer.
Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul – all the info
A true Christmas miracle!
The world will stand still come December 19 as the face of British boxing Anthony Joshua is all set to go up against social media sensation Jake Paul.
AJ steps in on a month’s notice after Paul’s ‘David vs Goliath’ Gervonta Davis clash was axed due to Tank’s civil suit case.
And Joshua will be desperate not to suffer the same fate as legends Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who both lost to YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
Particularly as a handsome figure was negotiated to get this Judgement Day deal over the line due to AJ’s DAZN contract.
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“So I don’t view it as a foregone conclusion that Jake Paul is getting knocked out.
“Nor do I think it’s any different than any other fight where two boxers are trying to knock each other out. That risk exists in every single fight.
“The worst fights aren’t the ones where you get knocked out. A flash knockdown is a lot better for you than getting hit in the head with 260 punches over 12 rounds. That’s the truth of it.
“Heavyweights are not known for high output, so that’s something to consider if you’re talking about real damage.”
Bidarian argues journeyman boxers used and abused and there to be KO’d to build records are at more danger than Paul – who only turned pro in 2020.
He said: “Boxing systematically mismatches fighters as they build prospects and contenders.
“Systematically puts journeymen in situations where they’re there to lose, often spectacularly to build fighters’ records.
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“So there’s guys coming in saying, ‘Beat me up, pad your stat.’ Here, you have a guy who is 12-1, who’s been under the biggest lights against some of the biggest names in combat sports, who’s coming in and saying, ‘I’m gonna do my best to f*** you up.’ Very different.”
