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The announcement this week that Jake Paul would be facing off against Anthony Joshua next month live on Netflix in a professionally sanctioned eight-round heavyweight fight shocked the boxing world.

While Paul has had a series of professional fights, none have been close to the level of opponent that he will come face-to-face with at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The 6ft 6in frame of Joshua will be unlike anything that The Problem Child has faced during his career and many have raised concerns about the safety of the YouTube sensation.

The American has already posted a video to his channel, titled ‘This is what you wanted’ which alludes to the fight with Anthony Joshua. Not only that, though, he also addresses the fight cancellation with Gervonta Davis and also the list of opponents he considered before settling on the Brit. It also shows his family reacting to the news, with his mother, father, and brother, Logan Paul, all seemingly shocked at his decision.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Betting Odds

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At the beginning of the video, the 28-year-old can be seen laying on a sun lounger. As part of a comedic skit, Paul reads aloud a list of his potential opponents from pieces of paper, before landing on AJ and then addressing the camera face on to explain how the opportunity came about.

Jake Paul

Unlike some of his opponents in the past, Jake was very respectful of the former two-time heavyweight champion in this video. He mentioned the Brit’s amazing knockout record and also talked about his Olympic triumph. When doing so, Paul said: “While he was winning Olympic gold, I was filming Vines in high school.”

He joked about how different his life looked back then and how much Joshua had already achieved in his career. He also mentioned Eddie Hearn not believing in him that he would never take this fight. The pair have had history with Hearn attempting to sue Paul after the YouTube star claimed in a 2022 interview with iFL TV that Hearn’s company, Matchroom Boxing, were paying veteran judge Glenn Feldman to score fights in favour of his fighters. The pair also clashed during the trilogy of fights between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, having been representatives of the opposing fighters.

Also in the video, Paul made reference to Gevonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who he was supposed to fight before new serious allegations came out against the current lightweight champion. The American said: “He had a past of many arrests and accusations, but everyone has a past. When you bring the past into the present with domestic violence, you’re out period.”

Video: Jake Paul Addresses Everything

It is clear that it would be wrong to entertain such a fight, with Paul’s focus now firmly on Joshua, who is near on twice the size of Tank.

Paul also stated that he’s doing something that ‘no one else has done before’ and claimed that he is ‘entering the lion’s den’ to fight the 6ft 6in frame of Anthony Joshua. While most don’t give Jake Paul a chance in this fight, the fact he is even capable of getting this opportunity to fight such a high-profile heavyweight is testament to his business acumen. Whichever way that the fight plays out, it will definitely attract one of the highest viewing figures of any boxing event in 2025.

Jake Paul let slip private texts with Anthony Joshua as blockbuster fight announced

Jake Paul has already locked horns with Anthony Joshua in a war of words before their blockbuster bout was officially confirmed. Paul and Joshua are set to clash on a card dubbed Judgement Day next month.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer, who only turned professional five years ago, was scheduled to face lightweight champion Gervonta Davis this month in an exhibition but the contest was scrapped. The 28-year-old has wasted little time in revealing his next adversary. The American will square off against two-time unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight world champion Joshua on December 19 in a fight that will be broadcast on Netflix. Both combatants have already exchanged barbs ahead of their showdown, particularly through a text message conversation earlier this year which Paul revealed.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Poster Detail That Proves Boxing Is 'Finished'

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“He [Joshua] DM’d me today like saying ‘LOL’ to one of my training clips and then I sent him a ‘LOL’ with a picture of him getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois,” Paul disclosed in June.

“And so I guess like we’re kind of s*** talking, behind the scenes a bit. But I have a lot of love for Anthony Joshua. I think this type of stuff is funny and he’s a great guy.”

Both pugilists are confident ahead of what promises to be a captivating encounter, with Paul boasting he’ll send Joshua to sleep. Paul declared: “This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day. A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime.

“When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title. To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”

Joshua is just as confident. The last time the Brit faced an opponent who didn’t have extensive boxing experience, he savagely knocked out former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. AJ declared: “Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy. I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me.

“Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected. Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”

Joshua stands at 6ft 6in and typically weighs 18 stone. This represents a substantial four stone advantage over Paul, who usually competes at 14st 4lb. Paul is also five inches shorter. Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded the promotional company MVP with Paul, remains just as bullish as his partner, despite the enormous disparity in height and weight.

“Everyone laughed when Jake Paul said in March that he wanted to fight AJ in 2026,” declared Bidarian, “Well, plans changed, and in under two weeks, MVP and Netflix have made one of the biggest fights of all time. Now, as only Jake Paul could and would do, he’s fighting one of the most fearsome boxers in the world. Joshua has every advantage in this fight, except one – the delusional confidence of Jake Paul, and if anyone can shock the world, it’s him.”

Anthony Joshua was told by boxing’s most powerful man it would be ‘good for me’ if he ‘destroys’ Jake Paul

Jake Paul has not endeared himself to boxing’s most powerful man Turki Alalshikh, and Anthony Joshua has the chance to make the Saudi businessman’s day.

Paul and Joshua are set to compete on December 19 in an outlandish heavyweight mismatch, it was confirmed today. The fight will take place on Netflix, marking just the fourth live boxing fight on the streamer.

Jake Paul Anthony Joshua Turki Alalshikh

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The fight will be Joshua’s first in 14 months after being viciously knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his last effort at the world title. Meanwhile, Paul was due to fight Gervonta Davis on November 14, before the bout was cancelled on short notice.

Turki Alalshikh’s thoughts on Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua

While this December showcase isn’t happening under Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season or The Ring Magazine banners, he is certainly going to be watching closely. He has boasted of having a fight ready for Anthony Joshua as soon as February, and will later put on his ultimate grudge fight with Tyson Fury.

And earlier this year, His Excellency gave an interview to Tha Boxing Voice where he noted that a win for Joshua would be an overall positive for his business. “If Joshua destroys him, it will be good for me because the headache is finished.

“Let me explain for you, Joshua against Jake Paul, if Joshua destroys him then the headache of Jake Paul will go from my mind. If Jake wins, then I will know that Joshua is finished and Jake Paul deserves to be ranked and deserves to have a future in boxing.

“You asked me about Edgar Berlanga against him, I am not very sure Berlanga can knock Jake out. But I have a good feeling about Joshua… I don’t want a 50-50, in this situation I want it to be 99-1.”

Alalshikh is head of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, who preside over all major boxing matches with Saudi funding. He is also involved with Dana White’s new TKO Boxing venture and has put on major UFC events in Riyadh.

Anthony Joshua makes hilarious Netflix request hours after signing $65million Jake Paul fight

Anthony Joshua has just signed one of the most lucrative deals of his career – but now he wants a favor worth just $7 from Netflix.

The two-time unified heavyweight champion was due to have an unannounced run-out fight in December that would have earned him around $1million after 14 months of inactivity. But he has stumbled into a fight with Jake Paul, which will earn him a reported £50million, or around $65million.

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

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Joshua has pocketed hundreds of millions throughout his legendary career, including multiple paydays as a headliner in Saudi Arabia. But this is a strange Christmas treat that he has been offered for an astronomical sum.

Anthony Joshua pleads for free Netflix subscription after signing for Jake Paul fight

Despite the fact that he is about to add tens of millions to his already staggering net worth reported to be around $152million, Anthony Joshua has called for one more favor from Netflix. The broadcaster will air his fight with Paul as part of their subscription, but his household may not even be able to watch.

Joshua has been signed with DAZN for years, fighting exclusively on their platform. And it seems that he may not even have a Netflix account judging by a tongue in cheek Instagram story where he asked the streamer “Can I get a company username and password please?”

Joshua could easily afford the just $7 that it costs for a standard subscription in his native UK, and could probably even spring for the $25 premium tier. However, he jokingly asked for a new login just hours after signing up to fight on the service.

It has been reported that DAZN were paid a considerable sum to allow Joshua to fight on another platform. Katie Taylor has done similar deals on a much smaller scale in the past year for her two Netflix meetings with Amanda Serrano.

Anthony Joshua Will Be Forced To Make A Weight Limit For The First Time Ever In Jake Paul Fight

The long-awaited return of two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been made official, but not many expected Jake Paul to be in the opposite corner.

Joshua is set to face the Youtuber-turned-fighter in an eight round heavyweight bout on Friday December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami — the latest high-profile event to be shown on Netflix via Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.

Anthony Joshua Will Be Forced To Make A Weight Limit For The First Time Ever In Jake Paul Fight

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The 36-year-old Olympic Gold Medalist from Watford has been out of action since he suffered the fourth defeat of his career to former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

It has been revealed that the controversial main event will be a sanctioned professional bout, eight rounds and with 10oz gloves. There is, however, one notable stipulation.

As revealed on Sky Sports by Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bidarian, ‘AJ’ will face a restriction on his weight for the first time in his career.

“So there’s a lot of discussions around the weight. Joshua fought Usyk twice. Both of those times Usyk was 221 pounds, Joshua was 240-245. When Jake fought Mike Tyson last year [he was] 227 pounds. I expect Jake will come in anywhere between 225 and 230, and Anthony Joshua has a weight limit of 245 pounds.”

Whilst it remains to be seen whether this condition will have an impact on ‘AJ’, the 36-year-old weighed in at 252.5lbs ahead of his last outing against Daniel Dubois.

As for Paul, the 28-year-old weighed in at 198.5lbs ahead of his June showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, although he did weigh a career heaviest of 228.25lbs before he faced Mike Tyson last November.

On November 12, news broke that Jake Paul was finalizing a deal to fight British heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua, potentially as soon as this December, due to Paul’s scheduled November 14 bout against Gervonta “Tank” Davis getting scrapped.

This turned the boxing community on its head, as few predicted that Jake Paul would be willing to take on such a massive (literally) challenge by fighting the much-bigger Joshua, especially on short notice. And while some would argue that Joshua doesn’t stand to gain anything from facing Paul, the reported $92 million purse he would earn for the bout suggests otherwise.

Despite that insane amount of money, there’s no question that Paul isn’t the guy that fans want to see Joshua fight at this point in his career. Rather, they’ve been clamoring for Joshua to fight fellow British heavyweight icon Tyson Fury, as these two have been circling each other for years.

Turki Alalshikh Drops Major Anthony Joshua Fight Update Amid Jake Paul  Rumours

READ: Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul in doubt as ‘Problem Child’ issues major update

And given that neither is in a good position to fight undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, it would appear that this is the perfect time for Fury vs. Joshua to take place.

Tyson Fury

Turki Alalshikh Teases Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Fight in 2026

If there’s one man who can finally get Fury and Joshua in the ring together, it’s Turki Alalshikh. And Alalshikh seems keen to make this fight happen, which was revealed during comments he made on DAZN’s broadcast before the Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr. fight on November 15.”I am talking now with Eddie, we have next year, two big events here in London. It will be a surprise. We will have [Anthony] 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,” Alalshikh said, per an X post from Ring Magazine.

When asked whether this could, “finally” be Joshua vs. Fury, Allashikh added, “I will not give you the answer. But we will have in April here, maybe in Tottenham, big fights. Then in September, we will have me and [Eddie Hearn], a big surprise for the fans in England.”

Eddie Hearn (who promoted Joshua with Matchroom) was also on the broadcast. When he was asked whether fans will see Fury vs. Joshua next year after Alalshikh’s comments, he said, “Listen, we have all got excited about that fight for many years. I believe [Turki] is the man to make it happen. Everything we do with Anthony Joshua, we do with Turki Alalshikh. We have been sitting down this week. We have a lot of plans for Anthony Joshua’s future. He wants to regain the world heavyweight championship; he wants to, of course, fight Tyson Fury.

“Let [Alalshikh] do his work, I will keep quiet, because I have got a big mouth, and hopefully we can see the fight that everybody in here wants to see,” Hearn added.

These comments provide a very optimistic outlook for Fury vs. Joshua. However, it Joshua were to fight (and somehow lose) to Paul, this iconic bout could be off the table.

Just a couple of days after we heard Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul was in the works for next month, the whole thing is now in doubt.

Anthony Joshua issues coy response after Jake Paul's shock call-out for fight | talkSPORT

The boxing world went into meltdown on Wednesday with the news that Joshua and Paul were in talks over a fight in Miami in December, to be streamed live globally on Netflix.

Predictably, the news met with excitement from casuals and groans from hardcore fight fans tired of seeing these ‘crossover events’. This would of course pit a two-time world heavyweight champion against a Youtuber with just 13 fights on his resume.

The aftermath of that first report (from Mike Coppinger of Ring magazine) was followed by promoter Eddie Hearn claiming it was ‘premature’. Hearn said while the two sides have talked, they were not close to a deal.

Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson Press Conference Netflix New York May 13 2024

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Now we have another major update, and it suggests the bout may not be happening before the end of this year. Remember Jake had been scheduled to meet lightweight (yes, lightweight) Gervonta Davis in Atlanta this very weekend, so he needs a replacement opponent.

Jake Paul on Joshua fight

It was the 28-year-old ‘Problem Child’ who provided the update this morning, as he posted a frustrated message on social media.

It read quite simply “not holding my breath for 2025. Too many yes men.”

Now you can make of that what you will, but it definitely sounds like there are potential blockers to Jake meeting AJ inside a boxing ring next month. Time is very short to get a show of that magnitude in place.

TV details a blocker?

Of course we do not know at this stage what those blockers could be, but the actual TV details for the fight could potentially be one. Remember that Joshua is exclusively signed to DAZN, so wouldn’t he need their blessing to fight on Netflix?

AJ has not fought since September 2024, when his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion ended in a fifth-round knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Huge news as Turki Alalshikh vows to deliver British megafight at last

Anthony Joshua Turki Alalshikh Press Conference vs Ngannou

We’ve waited for so long, we’ve had our hearts broken so many times, as boxing fans it is always the hope that kills you.

But despite the disappointment we’ve felt on so many occasions, we once again have reason to believe that Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua will happen at last in 2026.

This is a bout that should have happened in 2021, with both men at the peak of their powers and both owning world heavyweight titles. They actually signed a two-fight deal with the first match set for August 21 – with the undisputed title on the line.

Anthony Joshua Eddie Hearn vs Daniel Dubois Press Conference

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But then up popped Deontay Wilder to win an arbitration ruling to force a third fight against Fury, Joshua rerouted to face Oleksandr Usyk and lost his titles in the process. And the golden opportunity disappeared.

There have been more false starts since when a fight looked possible, but now it is without doubt the biggest fight left for either man. Once which surely is necessary to put a bow on this particular heavyweight era.

Neither man of course holds a world heavyweight title right now – Usyk owns all of the marbles in the sport’s marquee weight class – but a meeting of the two Brits is still expected to earn each man north of £50m for one night’s work.

As of now Joshua is preparing to return after elbow surgery, while Fury appears to be happily retired since January 2025. But never say never in heavyweight boxing, and that is because one Turki Alalshikh is on the case.

The 44-year-old Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has rewritten boxing history in the last two years, making fights which had before seemed impossible. Circumventing boxing politics to usher in a new era of megafights.

Fury vs Joshua might be the biggest one left on his ‘to do list’, and this week Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Alalshikh is making it his mission to ensure that the all-British blockbuster does happen in 2026.

Hearn on Fury vs Joshua

Hearn explained that the plan with Alalshikh is for two Joshua fights in 2026 – one of them being that Fury blockbuster. The first a tune-up. Of course this was before all that talk of AJ fighting Jake Paul next month.

He told talkSPORT: “I don’t know if we will fight Jake Paul yet, but next year we will fight in February and then we will fight Tyson Fury, if Turki Alalshikh delivers on his plans and strategies.

“We spoke with him in London this week – everything we do with Anthony Joshua will be in accordance with, and under the guidance of, Turki Alalshikh. He has given us amazing opportunities and the game plan will be put together with him.”

So there you have it, a clear plan for Fury vs Joshua to meet in 2026. But hang on, isn’t Fury happily retired?

Hearn does not believe Turki will fail

Hearn added: “It’s Turki Alalshikh’s responsibility to talk to Tyson Fury and try and make the deal. I can’t tell you we’re fighting Tyson Fury. What I can tell you is, Turki Alalshikh has told us ‘I am going to make AJ v Tyson Fury, this is your deal, do you accept?’. We have accepted.

“Is the fight made? No, because I don’t know where he’s at with Tyson Fury. All I know is he’s yet to fail in delivering a fight. If AJ doesn’t fight Tyson Fury, Turki Alalshikh has failed to make the fight. It will be on him, and I don’t believe he will fail.

“I believe you will see AJ against Tyson Fury in 2026.”

So what happens next? Yes Fury says he’s happily retired, and why would anybody not believe him? But this is the fight game, he’s a fighting man and these guys are called prizefighters for a reason.

If you ask us to predict what happens next, the cheque Turki offers is a massive one, big enough to tempt just about anybody out of retirement.

Fury vs Joshua finally happens in 2026. It has to, and it will.

Anthony Joshua is under fire for negotiating a fight with Jake Paul.

Ex-heavyweight champion Joshua and YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul are reportedly ‘finalising terms’ for a fight in Miami this December.

The news was quickly met with criticism from both fans and the boxing fraternity.

One man who has made his stance on the rumoured match-up clear is talkSPORT boxing expert Gareth A Davies.

Joshua is 28-4 as a pro and 25 of his wins have come by way of knockout

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He told talkBOXING: “This should not be commissioned. Jake Paul is the level of an area champion, he might not even win an area title in the UK.

“Anthony Joshua is a very dangerous heavyweight.

“They’re going to Florida, because it will be in Miami, and they’re a very lenient commission.

“This fight should not be licensed. It’s dangerous for Jake Paul.”

He added: “I don’t want to see a man decapitated in Miami in December.

“This affects Joshua’s legacy. He can’t have this legacy and fight Tyson Fury next. I’m really shocked.”

Ex-professional boxer added Spencer Oliver: “The fans won’t like this, but Joshua will see it as an easy money grab.

“At this stage in his career, should he be taking this fight? No.”

Would Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul be a dangerous fight?

Paul has the advantage of recent activity, as Joshua has been out of action since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in 2024.

But before his 14 months on the sideline, Joshua claimed wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker.

While Paul has had 13 professional fights, he has only shared the ring with opponents who are older, smaller or less powerful than 6ft 6ins powerhouse Joshua.

Should this go ahead, Joshua would certainly be the toughest challenge yet for the YouTuber-turned-boxer – and his biggest risk of being knocked-out or seriously injured.

What has Anthony Joshua’s team had to say about the match-up?

Matchroom’s Frank Smith, who helps promote Joshua, was asked on talkSPORT Breakfast whether he agrees that it would be a dangerous fight for Paul.

Smith said: “You have to give Jake Paul credit for what he’s doing and what he’s done in the sport.

“He has taken it seriously.

“So if the fight does happen, fair play to Jake Paul. But I’m sure they are looking at a number of options that may be a bit easier for Jake.”

Despite his clear disadvantage, Paul seems confident that he could knock Joshua out and is welcoming the challenge to prove himself.

Meanwhile, Joshua is facing scrutiny for even entertaining the idea of risking his reputation to fight the American.

What else has been said?

Should they actually end up sharing the ring, talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan thinks that Joshua’s legacy is already ‘sealed’.

He said: “Anthony Joshua is an entertainer and you can’t undo the fact that he won the world heavyweight championship twice.

There are stark differences between the rivals' stats

“He fought in some great fights.

“He is in the business of entertainment, if an opportunity is presented to him and someone wants to say ‘we can monetise this’ to the huge levels that are potentially available, why wouldn’t you?

“It’s a walk in the park.”

Jordan continued to question both the legitimacy and the safety of the potential fight.

He added: “Is it right, or appropriate, that a high-performing supreme athlete like Anthony Joshua, who’s only real challenges now are probably in his mind, because physically he could operate at the highest level if he still chose to, should be stepping in against someone like Jake Paul?

“That does not have the skillset to deal with the kind of power and expertise that Anthony Joshua has, and should boxing be sanctioning this?”

Phoning up to have their say, one boxing fan simply told talkSPORT: “If this fight goes ahead, it’s going to be the biggest mockery in boxing.”

On November 12, Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine made an X post that read, “Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are finalizing a deal for a heavyweight fight on Netflix in December in Miami, sources tell @ringmagazine. Paul steps up massively to fight the former heavyweight champion after his exhibition with Gervonta Davis was cancelled. Major props to Paul.”

Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul Bombshell Drops as Date 'Confirmed' for Fight

This has been the biggest news of the boxing world by far ever since it was announced. While there had been reports that Paul’s team was reaching out to several big-name boxers in order to try and get a Netflix fight in before the end of 2025, many were skeptical that they would be able to pull it off.

Eddie Hearn after the WBC Interim World Flyweight bout at the BP Pulse Live on November 30, 2024.

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Few believed that Paul would really be willing to step into the ring against an Olympic gold medalist and former heavyweight world champion like Anthony Joshua, especially on short notice.

However, Paul has seemingly proved a lot of people wrong. And while many are predicting that Paul will get knocked out by Joshua if this fight report is indeed true, Paul deserves a lot of credit for fighting a guy who is 100 pounds heavier and a foot taller than Gervonta.

Jake Paul is closing in to strike Julio Chavez Jr.'s face at the Honda Center in Anaheim California on June 29th, 2025.

Eddie Hearn Shuts Down Idea That Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Is Done

Joshua is promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, who has gone on the record in the past saying that he and Paul’s team have been negotiating a potential bout between these two. However, Hearn seems to have taken exception to Wednesday’s fight report, which was conveyed by Ariel Helwani during a November 12 episode of The Ariel Helwani Show.

“In the midst of all this [Paul vs. Joshua fight reporting], I did reach out to Eddie Hearn,” Helwani said, per an X post from Jed I. Goodman. “And he said, ‘We have spoken, but nothing close. And I doubt he would be so crazy.’ He, being Jake.

“I then asked him, ‘Would you say this report is premature?’ [Hearn] said, ‘Absolutely’.

Therefore, it sounds like this fight is not finalized and that both sides are negotiating. Hearn didn’t seem to appreciate the timing of Coppinger’s announcement, as now it seems that both sides would need to come to terms unless they want the boxing world at their respective throats.

It will be interesting to see when this fight is finalized, and whether it does end up taking place in December like Paul’s team has wanted.