Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is in talks to struggle YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Joshua, 36, has not fought since he was stopped within the fifth spherical by British rival Daniel Dubois in September final 12 months.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, mentioned in August it was probably Joshua’s subsequent struggle can be towards Paul – and on Thursday confirmed that talks had taken place between the 2 camps.
Media shops reported on Wednesday {that a} struggle between the pair was nearly a achieved deal, however Hearn instructed BBC Radio 5 Dwell Breakfast that “everybody has jumped the gun” with these claims.
“Our focus is on 2026,” added Hearn. “We’ve got a giant struggle deliberate for February and a big fight hopefully against Tyson Fury subsequent 12 months.
“We might run out in 2025. We had been simply going to have a low key struggle someplace – if that’s going to destroy the run of Mr Paul and make tens of tens of millions of {dollars} within the course of, then perhaps. Nothing is confirmed but.”
Any struggle between the pair would face sanctioning questions given the distinction in expertise between the 2 fighters and is unlikely to be thought of as an expert bout. An exhibition struggle is essentially the most believable end result.
Paul, 28, was on account of face light-weight world champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout on 14 November earlier than the struggle was cancelled.
The choice got here after a lawsuit was filed against Davis by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional misery.
