Anthony Joshua has rejected Tyson Fury’s stunning £1million wager ahead of his showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The former two-time heavyweight champion will make his return to the ring on December 19 against Paul – with the professional dust-up scheduled to take place in Miami. Joshua has not fought since his fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
Joshua is targeting two big bouts in 2026, but is first looking to get some crucial minutes under his belt against Paul. The American, 28, first called for a showdown with ‘AJ’ earlier this year. Despite the huge gulf in experience, a clash between the pair was seemingly on the cards.
READ: Jake Paul Says He’s Found Anthony Joshua’s Weakness – His Los
When reports emerged of a potential fight happening, Fury was quick to offer his bold verdict, stating that he would make a £1m wager. He said: “Jake Paul chins AJ, yes. 100 per cent. If they fight, I’m putting a million pounds on Jake Paul.” Fury added: “I think that AJ is a spent force, and I think Jake Paul is on the rise. I like his new heavyweight look, he is a bit chubby, a bit bulky, he is getting there.”
Now that the bout is official, Fury’s comments have resurfaced online. Both Joshua and Paul met at a Miami press conference last week, and the Brit was asked for his reaction and whether he would be willing to place a bet with his long-time adversary. “No. I am not worried about what Tyson Fury has got to say,” he said.
“It ain’t even about the money. I am betting on myself. I am focusing on myself. I am fully betting on myself. I ain’t worried about what anyone has got to say.” He added: “Respectfully, I ain’t worried about what Tyson Fury has got to say… or I am not here for any of that betting and nonsense, I am here to fight and that’s all it is. Once I get the job done, I am going to collect my cheque, cash it and I am going to focus on the next one. My bet is me doing a number on him. That’s all there is to it.”
With Joshua planning on a return to the ring in February in Saudi Arabia, the Brit hopes he will get the chance to face Fury in September 2026. The ‘Gypsy King’ stunned many by announcing his retirement from the sport back in January, but has hinted at a return to the ring over the last few months.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently teased a potential major fight in London in September of next year. Discussing Joshua’s future, Alalshikh said on DAZN ahead of Chris Eubank Jr’s rematch with Conor Benn earlier this month: “I am talking now with Eddie, we have next year two big events here in London, it will be a surprise. We will have Joshua in our country in February, then there is the big fight, one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing, it will be in London here maybe in September. I will not give you the answer but we will have in April [a fight] in Tottenham, big fights, then in September we will have a big surprise for the fans in England.”
