Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is in talks to battle 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 battle could be towards Paul – and on Thursday confirmed that talks had taken place between the 2 camps.
Media retailers reported on Wednesday {that a} battle between the pair was nearly a achieved deal, however Hearn instructed BBC Radio 5 Stay Breakfast that “everybody has jumped the gun” with these claims.
“Our focus is on 2026,” added Hearn. “Now we have an enormous battle deliberate for February and an enormous battle hopefully towards Tyson Fury subsequent 12 months.
“We might run out in 2025. We had been simply going to have a low key battle 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 possibly. Nothing is confirmed but.”
Any battle between the pair would face sanctioning questions given the distinction in expertise between the 2 fighters and is unlikely to be thought-about as an expert bout. An exhibition battle is probably the most believable consequence.
Paul, 28, was resulting from face light-weight world champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout on 14 November earlier than the battle was cancelled.
The choice got here after a lawsuit was filed towards Davis by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional misery.
