'Not happening': Jake Paul's $40 million demand puts Anthony Joshua fight in doubt
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has shut down Jake Paul's reported demands to fight former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in December.
About a week ago, Hearn seemed confident a deal could get done and suggested Joshua would gladly take on the YouTuber turned boxer.
He told Pro Boxing Fans that he had spoken to Saudi fixer Turki Alalshikh about the venture and that Joshua could "squeeze in" a fight with Paul before turning his attention to fellow British for world champion Tyson Fury in 2026.
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However, Hearn's tune has changed dramatically this week telling Boxing Social, Paul has basically priced himself out of negotiations.
"Jake Paul wants $40 million to fight Anthony Joshua. It's not happening," Hearn said.
"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 confirmed that Joshua still plans to fight in December but Paul probably won't be the one standing in the opposite corner.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (right) punches Jake Paul on his way to losing. Getty
"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," Hearn added.
"We are ready for December, but Jake Paul is not an easy opponent to negotiate with."
Hearn dropped his $100 million defamation lawsuit against the YouTuber earlier this year so they could co-promote the Katie Taylor Amanda Serrano trilogy.
Hearn filed the lawsuit after Paul alleged during an interview that Hearn had paid boxing judge Glenn Feldman to favourably score Matchroom fighters from ringside.
A fight between Joshua and Paul would most certainly be a high grossing event with the interest in the UK and the US, along with a potential gate of 90,000 if it's staged at Wembley.
Anthony Joshua is counted out during his loss to Daniel Dubois. Getty
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is looking to rebound from his last outing in September 2024. He was stopped in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois in his attempt to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
While he's no longer a fixture to fight for a world title, Joshua, 35, is looking to cash in on the final years of his career.
There's been talk of a bout with Fury for years yet both sides could not come to an agreement while 'The Gypsy King' was world champion.
That fight looks set to take place next year, although Fury was quite clear on how Joshua would fare against Paul, 28, who is 12-1 as a professional.
"I think Jake Paul knocks him out," Fury told The Ring. "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."
