Paul’s asking price of $40m puts fight with AJ in doubt

Jake Paul’s eye-watering $40m demand has cast serious doubt over a proposed blockbuster bout against Anthony Joshua, with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn declaring the fight is not happening

Barely a week ago, there was optimism around the possibility of a December showdown between the former heavyweight champion and the American YouTuber-turned-boxer. Hearn had previously suggested that Joshua was open to squeezing in a fight with Paul before a potential clash with Tyson Fury in 2026.

He also confirmed that Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh had been engaged in preliminary discussions to facilitate the bout.

But Hearn has since backtracked, telling Boxing Social that Paul’s financial expectations have derailed the talks.

“Jake Paul wants $40m to fight Anthony Joshua. It’s not happening. I don’t believe Jake Paul is serious. I don’t trust that he would take the fight. I think Francis Ngannou would destroy him, let alone AJ,” Hearn said, expressing skepticism about Paul’s intentions.

Although the search for Joshua’s December opponent continues, Paul is no longer a viable option, according to the promoter.

“We want AJ to fight in December, and we’re looking at a number of names. Jake Paul just isn’t one of them right now. We are ready for December, but Jake Paul is not an easy opponent to negotiate with.”

The pair, who once stood on opposite ends of a legal dispute, had seemingly patched things up after Hearn dropped a $100m defamation suit against Paul earlier this year.

The legal row stemmed from Paul’s allegation that Hearn paid judge Glenn Feldman to favour Matchroom fighters. The resolution of that case paved the way for both parties to work together on the Katie Taylor–Amanda Serrano trilogy, but that temporary peace appears not to have extended to serious talks about a Joshua–Paul fight.

From a commercial standpoint, a bout between Joshua and Paul would likely generate massive interest across both sides of the Atlantic. With a possible 90,000-seat Wembley gate, the financial incentive for all involved remains compelling. But Hearn insists that without a realistic negotiation framework, such hype remains nothing more than fantasy.

Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), now 35, is hoping to bounce back from his shock fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois last September in a failed bid to become a three-time world champion. While no longer a central figure in the title scene, the British-Nigerian remains a massive draw and is keen to make the most of the remaining years of his career.

The long-discussed all-British mega-fight against Tyson Fury may finally materialise in 2026, particularly now that Fury is no longer holding the belts. Still, it hasn’t stopped Fury from stirring the pot regarding Paul’s potential.

“I think Jake Paul knocks him out. I just think Jake Paul would knock AJ out. I think AJ is a spent force, and I think Jake Paul is on the rise,” Fury told The Ring.

While Fury’s comments are sure to raise eyebrows, the likelihood of Paul stepping into the ring with Joshua appears more distant than ever, unless the American drastically lowers his price tag.