The unpredictable world of boxing has once again thrown up a potential matchup that seems plucked from a fever dream: former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua possibly stepping into the ring with YouTube sensation turned prizefighter Jake Paul. While the fight promises astronomical financial returns, Joshua`s long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, offered a starkly pragmatic, and frankly, rather humorous, assessment of what such a contest would entail – particularly for Paul.
Jake “The Problem Child” Paul has meticulously built his boxing record since 2020, primarily by facing opponents from outside the traditional boxing elite, often significantly older or from mixed martial arts backgrounds. Names like Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley feature prominently on his resume, culminating recently in a widely discussed exhibition bout against boxing icon Mike Tyson. Paul has proven adept at generating buzz and winning these crossover contests, but a leap to facing a legitimate heavyweight like Joshua is, well, a different proposition entirely.
Anthony Joshua operates in the sport`s glamour division, albeit having navigated a few bumps in the road himself, including a recent defeat to Daniel Dubois. His career trajectory is centered on reclaiming heavyweight supremacy, a path that rarely intersects with celebrity boxing endeavors, Francis Ngannou fights notwithstanding.
Enter Eddie Hearn. When quizzed about Paul`s suggestion of fighting AJ, Hearn didn`t shy away from the obvious financial appeal, acknowledging the “absolutely obscene” amount of money at stake. Because, as we all know, in modern boxing, sometimes the most lucrative fights are also the most… curious.
However, Hearn quickly pivoted to a sobering reality check regarding the competitive nature of the fight. He bluntly labeled it a “catastrophic mismatch,” a characterization that few seasoned boxing observers would dispute. The physical disparity and disparity in top-level experience between a seasoned heavyweight puncher and a cruiserweight newcomer, regardless of the latter`s knockout reel against non-boxers, is vast. So vast, in fact, that Hearn warned the fight “would lead to the end of Jake Paul.” He added a swift clarification, “Hopefully, not literally,” which depending on your view of Paul`s ring prowess, might inspire either relief or a nervous chuckle.
Yet, in a moment that might surprise some, Hearn also conceded that Paul deserves a measure of respect. Despite the carefully curated list of opponents, Hearn acknowledged that Paul is putting in the work – the training, the sparring – and is genuinely improving as a boxer. He`s not just showing up for a paycheck; he`s applying himself. While firmly stating Paul is “absolutely not” world-class, Hearn admitted he`s “a lot better than a lot of fighters out there.”
This complex picture was further muddled recently by the WBA`s decision to rank Paul at number 14 in their cruiserweight division. Hearn expressed skepticism, suggesting the ranking was likely “commercially led” to capitalize on Paul`s popularity rather than a pure reflection of his standing against the division`s contenders. He felt Paul might be closer to the top 100, illustrating the gulf between celebrity influence and traditional sporting meritocracy. “Can`t believe I`ve said it,” Hearn remarked with apparent self-deprecation regarding giving Paul “good luck.”
Ultimately, the prospect of Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul boils down to a classic boxing equation: risk versus reward. For Joshua, the competitive risk appears minimal against an opponent of Paul`s experience level in the heavyweight division, while the financial reward would be astronomical. For Paul, the financial reward is equally huge, but the competitive risk, as his potential future promoter helpfully pointed out, could be the end of his surprising boxing venture. Joshua isn`t pursuing the fight for sporting glory, but for a “massive chunk of money,” and Hearn believes AJ would step in “and give him a hiding.” It seems in the theatrical landscape of modern combat sports, even a predicted “catastrophic mismatch” can find its place on the schedule if the numbers make enough noise.
