EDDIE HEARN has defended the idea of Anthony Joshua fighting Jake Paul amid safety concerns.
It emerged this week that the 6ft 6in two-time heavyweight world champion is in talks to face 6ft 1in YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in December.
But the bout is eyed for Netflix – causing a huge hurdle with 18 STONE Joshua exclusive to streaming rivals DAZN.
Promoter Hearn denied reports that the fight is being “finalised” but confirmed talks are progressing between the two camps.
He told SunSport: “I mean it’s definitely not finalised, as you’ve heard from the DAZN earlier today. There’s a lot of conversations to be had.
“Is Jake Paul for real? I mean, if he is, it’d be very difficult for us to not accept the amount of money they’re talking about.
“We have our plans for 2026, but we were due to have a little eight round run out in December. I never expected that run out to be against Jake Paul.
“And it’s only 50/50 at this point, but if Jake Paul is mad enough to do it, it’s very likely we’ll oblige.
“Like I said, it’s 50-50 at the moment, it really comes down to if Jake Paul is mad enough to take on this challenge.
“And if he is, listen, big respect, but AJ’s not playing games. This ain’t an exhibition, this will be a real fight.
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“So be careful what you wish for. We’re standing by.”
Joshua, 36, is yet to return since his September 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, 28, at Wembley Stadium.
But after recovering from elbow surgery in the summer, he is plotting a short-notice return fight next month.
It comes after he visited Oleksandr Usyk’s training camp in search for a new team – meanwhile Hearn this week met with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
And Hearn revealed Alalshikh wants Joshua to fight Tyson Fury, 37, next year but it would require the Gypsy King coming out of retirement.
Paul, 28, meanwhile was due to face Gervonta Davis, 30, in an exhibition bout this Friday in Miami on Netflix.
But it was scrapped after troubled lightweight champ Davis – FIVE STONE lighter than Paul – was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend.
Davis had a civil suit filed against him, alleging battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
AJ’s not playing games. This ain’t an exhibition, this will be a real fight. So be careful what you wish for. We’re standing by.
Eddie Hearn
So the event was cancelled – leaving Paul’s camp scrambling for a new opponent – with Hearn putting AJ’s name forward.
It has led to huge safety concerns due to the size, skill and experience disparity, with the British Boxing Board of Control unlikely to sanction the mismatch.
And with Paul – who is 12-1 losing to Tommy Fury in 2023 – owning Kaseya Center in Miami a fight – the shock bout looks set for Florida – where safety rules are far looser.
But Hearn said in defence: “AJ was gonna fight a heavyweight in the top 120 of Boxrec.
“He’s now fighting a cruiserweight in the top, whatever he is, 60, I don’t know. Do I think Jake Paul can win? No!
“You know, he’s training hard. What’s he had 10 or 11 fights, whatever it is. He knows his way around a ring, but he’ll get battered by AJ.
“I mean, I think anyone can get seriously hurt against AJ. If you look at the opponents that AJ’s faced in the past, earlier on in his career, he fought guys that Jake Paul would beat, but he’s experienced now.
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“Jake Paul will be leaning on the fact that he’s getting old, he hasn’t boxed for a year and a half, he got knocked out last time, he’s got no confidence.
But he’ll soon find out.”
