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BOXING

Why After 13 Years, Deontay Wilder On the Brink of Losing Heavyw

By Admin October 22, 2025

After 13 Years, Deontay Wilder On the Brink of Losing Heavyweight Title Spot

For the first time in more than a decade, Deontay Wilder—the man who once ruled the WBC heavyweight division with unmatched knockout power—is at risk of being locked out of the title picture he once dominated.

The World Boxing Council’s October rankings have dropped Wilder to 13th, a steep tumble from the 10th spot he held after his June stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon. The reason is simple: inactivity.

Wilder’s comeback, originally penciled in for fall 2025, has been delayed. Promoter Shelly Finkel told WBN that Wilder was preparing for a return ahead of a massive 2026 showdown. But Finkel now signals a likely January or February return against an opponent that has yet to be confirmed.

JUST IN: Tyson Fury receives new blow to comeback plan as Oleksandr

By that point, Wilder risks falling out of the WBC top 15 entirely—effectively closing the door on a voluntary title shot against reigning champion Oleksandr Usyk, which WBN understands the Ukrainian is considering before retirement.

“I won’t get into speculating on Deontay’s next fight, but Eddie did reach out about the Dave Allen fight,” Finkel told WBN. “After Dave fights on October 11 and Deontay fights, we will see.”

However, with Allen falling short against Makhmudov, that option appears dead. The big Russian himself, though, could now be a target, offering Wilder a path back into the heavyweight conversation.

Wilder’s slide underscores just how unforgiving the heavyweight division has become. Fighters like Jalolov, Torres, and Vianello have overtaken him simply by staying active, sharp, and fresh. With Usyk firmly in control and contenders like Joshua, Hrgovic, and Okolie jostling for position, any further delay could see Wilder fighting merely to maintain relevance in the rankings.

Early Knockout Rampage
Wilder first broke into the WBC Top 15 in December 2012, dispatching Kelvin Price via third-round knockout at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Between 2013 and 2014, he tore through the heavyweight division with a series of first-round stoppages, quickly becoming one of boxing’s most feared young heavyweights.

The year 2013 opened with a win over Matthew Greer, quickly followed by a high-profile victory against Audley Harrison in Sheffield, England, dropping the former Olympic gold medalist in round one. Former world champion Siarhei Liakhovich fell in the opening round next, proving Wilder was as unstoppable as he was powerful.

Knockouts over Nicolai Firtha and Malik Scott added to his momentum. Wilder capped this decisive run against Jason Gavern, forcing a fourth-round retirement after multiple knockdowns. In just over a year, six consecutive stoppages cemented his reputation as the WBC’s top challenger—a force the division could not ignore.

Rise, Reign, and Recent Struggles
After defeating Bermane Stiverne in early 2015, Wilder began a five-year reign as WBC champion—the most dominant in years since Vitali Klitschko—defending his belt multiple times with his trademark power.

The 2020 dethronement at the hands of Tyson Fury marked the beginning of a decline, though Wilder remained the number one-ranked contender well past their trilogy. Only losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang pushed him down the ladder. Even after stopping Herndon, Wilder slides again from 10th to 13th. For a man once untouchable, staying active is no longer optional—it’s survival.

Deontay Wilder Heavyweight Title Comeback
The coming months are critical. A delayed return could render Wilder ineligible for a voluntary title shot, forcing him to climb the rankings from scratch. Staying sharp, active, and marketable is now as much about survival as it is about pride. With the likes of Torres, Jalolov, and Vianello ahead of him, the Bronze Bomber faces a race against time.

For Wilder, the fight isn’t just in the ring anymore—it’s against the clock, against inactivity, and against a new generation of heavyweights eager to take his spot.

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BOXING

Tyson Fury receives new blow to comeback plan as Oleksandr

By Admin October 22, 2025

Tyson Fury receives new blow to comeback plan as Oleksandr Usyk provides return update

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has received a seismic blow in his bid to make a return to the ring against Oleksandr Usyk.

Calling time on his memorable career in boxing for the fifth time at the beginning of this year, former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury confirmed plans to step away from the ring.

But in the time since, the Morecambe native is inching closer to a staggering comeback next year, targeting a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, despite suffering a pair of losses.

READ: Terence Crawford Names The Two Undefeated Fighters Who Turned Down Offers To Face Him

However, in a new update from the undisputed champion’s camp, fans hopeful of seeing Fury face the Ukrainian again should lower their expectations.

Oleksandr Usyk’s team play down Tyson Fury trilogy

Suffering back-to-back undisputed title fight losses to Usyk last year, Fury was put to the sword for both the first and second time in his pro career.

However, amid a niggling back injury for Usyk in recent months, the future of the current undisputed champion remains up in the air.

But in a new update from the Ukrainian star’s team, a trilogy pairing with Fury is unlikely to happen, especially in Usyk’s immediate return to the ring.

Oleksandr Usyk is targeting a return in the first half of 2026 with the winner of Joseph Parker-Fabio Wardley the front-runner for a shot at the heavyweight champion, Usyk’s advisor, Serhii Lapin, tells The Ring’s @MikeCoppinger. pic.twitter.com/iVVhl107m3

— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) October 20, 2025

“Theoretically, it’s an interesting option, but for whom?” Serhii Lapin told Ring Magazine of a trilogy between Usyk and Fury. “If boxing fans truly support it, then maybe. However, in my opinion, that chapter is already closed.

Instead, preferring a showdown with either Joseph Parker or knockout star Fabio Wardley, Usyk is sure to have a keen eye on proceedings this weekend.

Anthony Joshua inches closer to Tyson Fury clash

During his time away from boxing, former two-time heavyweight kingpin Anthony Joshua has made his feelings about an overdue clash with Fury more than clear.

Hoping to land a showdown with his British compatriot as soon as next summer, the Watford native is expected to fight in the early goings of 2026.

And linked with a “run out” fight first by his long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, Joshua has been called out by a host of contenders, including a rather surprising claim from a veteran journeyman.

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BOXING

New Category Created to Legitimize Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis

By Admin October 21, 2025

In a move that has stunned traditionalists, BoxRec has introduced a brand-new classification — the “Hybrid Professional” category — just in time for the controversial Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis showdown on November 14.

The pioneering but divisive decision effectively grants the YouTuber-turned-boxer and the reigning WBA lightweight champion a new kind of professional tag, even though the bout remains officially listed as an “Exhibition boxing bout.”

Hybrid Professional: A Technical Loophole
According to BoxRec’s official description, the contest “will not go on either fighter’s official record” but will appear under the Hybrid Professional classification for all to see.

JUST IN: The calculated move by Anthony Joshua to secure his own ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

That technical loophole means the fight — despite being a 200-pound man facing a 135-pound champion — will still be preserved on the sport’s most trusted results database.

For many boxing purists, it’s another slap in the face, signaling a further erosion of the sport’s integrity in the name of spectacle.

Jake Paul’s Quest for Credibility
For years, Jake Paul has declared his mission to “change the sport.” Now, the introduction of a hybrid record may be his most straightforward path yet to that recognition — without having to face legitimate contenders in his own division.

The former cruiserweight, who fought at heavyweight just last year, continues to market himself as a boxing disruptor. But critics argue this latest move is more about optics than legacy.

“They’ll never give me credit until I have a world championship belt,” Paul said recently. “But that’s okay — belts collect dust. What I’ve done in the sport is unprecedented.”

Unprecedented, perhaps. Authentic, less so.

The Tank Davis Spectacle
Gervonta “Tank” Davis, meanwhile, has embraced the event as an entertainment showcase rather than a sporting milestone.

“Boxing wins come November 14,” Davis said. “It’s not just me and Jake in a fight — it’s a whole card. We’re just giving boxing what it needs, and that’s excitement.”

But many insiders argue that excitement shouldn’t come at the cost of weight integrity or fair competition. With Davis walking around at 140 pounds and Paul outweighing him by roughly 60, the matchup raises serious questions about sanctioning, safety, and what truly counts as a “professional” bout.

A Dividing Line for the Sport
Paul supporters will undoubtedly hail BoxRec’s hybrid category as an “ingenious solution” — a way to document crossover fights without polluting the professional records that define boxing’s lineage.

But for purists, it represents the latest dilution of what separates professional boxing from social spectacle. A hybrid record ensures the fight lives forever on BoxRec, but not in the sport’s official annals.

Jake Paul promised to make history — and in a way, he has. Not the kind boxing’s gold standard would recognize in BoxRec’s new Hybrid Professional era.

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BOXING

The calculated move by Anthony Joshua to secure his own ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

By Admin October 21, 2025

Anthony Joshua will be back soon, honest!

It’s looking increasingly likely that he will fight by the end of this year, and a late December date in Ghana is under serious consideration.

However, there are a lot of reasons why a fight in Accra may not happen, and there are equally a lot of reasons why a fight before the end of the year makes sense. This would be the only year in the 12 years that Joshua has been a professional that he has not fought. He needs a fight: it is that simple.

The talk once again is of a showdown with Tyson Fury: a fight first seriously talked about in June 2020, when Fury announced it had been agreed. Fury, however, has talked about a third and final fight with Oleksandr Usyk, who last week claimed he would fight again in 2026. The very top of the heavyweight division is currently in hibernation; the big bears have gone to their lairs with their secret demands, prejudices and fears.

JUST I N: Terence Crawford Names The Two Undefeated Fighters Who Turned Down Offers To Face Him

Fury, Usyk and Joshua have all reached their peak during close to a decade of great fights, and right now, each of their final matches needs to be calculated with care: there is a lot at stake, and they all know that. There are men waiting for a golden opportunity, but the trio know that the riches are contained inside their triangle of conflict, their cosy little war.

“The problem is that there is no way Anthony Joshua can have a low-key fight anywhere in the world,” said Eddie Hearn with a smile and a shrug. “I know what he wants to do: he just wants to get out and fight.” Joshua last fought in September 2024, when he was stopped at Wembley Stadium, in front of nearly 95,000 people, by Daniel Dubois.

If Joshua does fight in December in Accra – or in California, which has also been mentioned – he will not, as Hearn hinted, be the main attraction; he will be a lively sideshow, and that will help him ease back. It is increasingly difficult for main event boxers to return from losses, especially crushing defeats, in low-key fights. The modern pattern is to return in a big rematch, but that is not currently an option. The other route is topping the bill in a main event of significance. Joshua, it appears, does not want the added and unnecessary pressure right now.

In 1991, less than five months after Nigel Benn had lost to Chris Eubank in their first fight – which shaped the future of British boxing – in Birmingham in November 1990, Benn was back in action on a Wednesday night at York Hall. Benn beat Robbie Sims in seven rounds, and there was a Marvin Hagler connection – Sims was his half-brother. It was the fight that Benn needed, a return away from the spotlight and the pressure. Joshua would, it seems, like something similar.

Joshua has been the absolute main attraction in massive fights since beating Dillian Whyte for the British title at the O2 in 2015; it was not his first main event, but it was the first of the big ones, the nights that left an impression. He has fought outside in front of 65,000 people on six occasions during 10 extraordinary years of dominance at the box office. There is, let’s be absolutely clear, nobody in British boxing history that can come close to matching Joshua’s numbers.

Joshua was in Accra in June this year, ringside at a fight, and he met with Ghana’s boxing king, Azumah Nelson. Nelson is Africa’s greatest fighter. It was a historic meeting, especially for a boxing scholar like Joshua. There was a lot of talk at the time, with renewed chat about Joshua’s desire to fight in Africa. He has talked openly about a fight in Nigeria, where his parents are from, for a long time.

Joshua knows his Rumble in the Jungle and has talked about wanting something similar. A fight as part of an undercard in December would not quite be the second coming of George Foreman and Muhammad Ali on that monumental African dawn back in 1974, but it would be a lot of fun. Also, it is worth mentioning that the Rumble took place about 2,100 miles away from Accra.

The fight might be announced soon, or it might just vanish, which would be a shame. Joshua fighting in Accra in late December, with Nelson ringside and a global audience fascinated by the distant echoes of the Rumble, would end the year in style. It would also be invaluable preparation for a swansong fight or two next year. In short, he would have the edge over Fury, who has not fought since last December. It would be a calculated move, and a smart one, but it would not be anonymous.

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BOXING

Terence Crawford Names The Two Undefeated Fighters Who Turned Down Offers To Face Him

By Admin October 21, 2025

Five-weight world champion Terence Crawford has established himself as one of, if not the greatest fighter of his entire generation over the last few years.

The 38-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska has had an exceptional professional career to date, remaining unbeaten in 42 bouts since he made his debut way back in 2008.

Crawford etched his name into the boxing history books once again last month when he defeated Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez to capture the undisputed super-middleweight championship at a sold-out Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

READ: Terence Crawford could miss out on historic ‘Fighter of the

‘Bud’ has also achieved undisputed status in a further two weight classes throughout the course of his career, accomplishing this feat at light-welterweight and welterweight respectively, becoming the first male fighter to do this in three separate divisions.

There are still a number of opponents out there that fans want to see Crawford take on, but he has claimed that two fighters in particular have refused the chance to face him.

Speaking in an interview, Crawford revealed that American stars Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Vergil Ortiz were reportedly offered the chance to face him recently, but both passed up on this huge opportunity.

“Boots had a chance to fight me, Vergil Ortiz had an opportunity to fight me, but now everybody like ‘Oh I’ll fight Terence or I’m this, I’m that’ … I’m like okay cool, when y’all had your opportunity y’all went elsewhere, but now that y’all see I’m the ticket now y’all like ‘Oh yeah we wanna fight Terence Crawford, we want Terence Crawford’ … that’s the narrative now.”

Both Ennis and Ortiz are undefeated in their respective careers, and while a clash against Crawford may not come to fruition in the near future, the pair have actually been linked to a bout with one another next.

‘Bud’ is expected to take some time away from the sport before he makes an important decision on his future, one that could result in the five-weight world champion announcing his retirement, although this remains unlikely.

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BOXING

“I’d Be A Joke”: Gervonta Davis’ Complete U-Turn On Jake Paul Fig

By Admin October 20, 2025

“I’d Be A Joke”: Gervonta Davis’ Complete U-Turn On Jake Paul Fight

Gervonta Davis surprised the boxing world back in August when it was announced that he would be facing Jake Paul next.

The unbeaten 30-year-old from Baltimore is set to face the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a scheduled ten round exhibition clash on Friday November 14 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, the latest high-profile bout to be broadcast around the world on Netflix.

Davis’ last appearance took place back in March when his WBA lightweight title defence against countryman Lamont Roach Jr was declared a majority decision draw, although some viewers felt the challenger had done enough to be declared the winner.

JUST IN: How Anthony Joshua missed ‘mad money’ fight with knock

Whilst it was expected that ‘Tank’ would face Roach in a rematch next, the three-weight world champion instead opted for a controversial match-up with ‘The Problem Child’, a decision that has sparked outrage amongst some of the boxing community.

It seems that ‘Tank’ has made a complete 180 on facing Paul, as in a resurfaced interview Davis made it clear he would have to secure his legacy in the sport first before taking on the YouTuber.

“I’d laugh at them. I feel as though in my career I can’t do that right now. I ain’t put in enough work. I’m not a Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao or Canelo Alvarez. I still got work to put in.

“I still got to have my foot on the gas as far as boxing, if I do that right now they going to look at me as a joke just like they look at Jake Paul.”

Fans and analysts had been holding out hope for a showdown between ‘Tank’ and long-term rival Shakur Stevenson, but it appears this ‘mega-fight’ is now unlikely to ever happen, after Davis revealed earlier this year that he intends to announce his retirement from the sport after he faces Paul next month.

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BOXING

How Anthony Joshua missed ‘mad money’ fight with knock

By Admin October 20, 2025

Anthony Joshua missed ‘mad money’ fight with knockout star as promoter reveals his big regret

Anthony Joshua may be in for a sizable return to the ring before too long, but it seems he still missed out on another lucrative outing.

Expected to make his return to boxing in the coming months, former two-time world heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua received a new update on his future recently, in a surprising move.

And constantly drawing ties to a pairing with fellow British star Tyson Fury, Joshua’s chances of taking on the Morecambe native in an overdue clash also took a notable hit earlier this week.

JUST IN: Terence Crawford could miss out on historic ‘Fighter of the

However, according to his long-time promoter, Joshua had agreed to a “mad money” fight with another heavyweight from a prior generation, whom he claimed backed out of the clash.

Anthony Joshua missed out on lucrative Deontay Wilder clash

Another pairing Watford star Joshua has been forever linked to is a showdown with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

But according to Matchroom Boxing leader Eddie Hearn, it is not for lack of trying that the Brit has so far failed to secure a fight with the knockout star.

Even tied to a clash at the turn of the year, according to Hearn, “mad money” was tabled to Wilder in order to book a pairing with Joshua — in what the Dagenham native describes as the biggest fight he failed to broker.

“(Anthony) Joshua [versus] (Deontay) Wilder,” Hearn told IFL TV when asked about the biggest fight he failed to make. “We threw mad money at Wilder to take that fight. Al Haymon, everybody — DAZN, and we couldn’t get it over the line.

“…I don’t think the fighter ever ducks the fight,” Hearn continued. “I just think we didn’t get on — mainly Haymon. Our offer for that fight was huge.”

Deontay Wilder reveals date for boxing return

And still tied to a showdown with Joshua in his return to the ring, former world champion Wilder has been linked heavily with another cross-over pairing against an ex-UFC kingpin, too.

However, expected to take one more warm-up fight before potentially one final foray for a world championship, Wilder recently addressed his immediate future in the ring.

Snapping a two-fight skid earlier this summer, Wilder’s comeback to combat seems to line up with the impending comeback of Olympic hero Joshua, too.

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BOXING

Terence Crawford could miss out on historic ‘Fighter of the

By Admin October 20, 2025

Terence Crawford could miss out on historic ‘Fighter of the Year’ award following one upcoming matchup

Terence Crawford undoubtedly earned the biggest win of 2025 last month.

At Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super super middleweight champion.

Many even believed that the unanimous scorecards didn’t truly reflect just how dominant ‘Bud’ was on September 13.

READ: How Terence Crawford Owes Turki Alalshikh a Real Fight, After Ca

While there have been some hot takes about what Crawford achieved, there’s no denying that the manner of his performance after moving up two weight classes was incredibly impressive.

It may seem like he has the ‘Fighter of the Year’ award already in the bag, but one upcoming fight could challenge that position.

Naoya Inoue’s fourth fight of 2025 could provide competition for the ‘Fighter of the Year’ award

When it comes time for The Ring magazine to crown their ‘Fighter of the Year’ for 2025, Terence Crawford is likely going to be the first name that’s put forward.

His win was so impressive that some have even urged Crawford to retire while he’s on top of the sport after everything that he has already accomplished.

That being said, there are some that criticized Canelo Alvarez’s display on September 13, questioning whether the Mexican star overlooked his opponent.

Crawford’s win was the biggest moment in boxing this year, but it’s also the only time that he has competed in 2025.

Naoya Inoue, on the other hand, who is ranked as The Ring’s #3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, two spots behind ‘Bud’, has been much more active.

‘The Monster’ has already produced three wins this year to defend his undisputed super bantamweight titles, including a bout with Ramon Cardenas where he recovered after being dropped in the second round.

Naoya Inoue’s 2025 opponents so far	Opponent’s record	Date	Result
Kim Ye-joon	21-2-2	Jan 24, 2025	KO in Round 4
Ramon Cardenas	26-1	May 4, 2025	TKO in Round 8
Murodjon Akhmadaliev	14-1	Sep 14, 2025	Unanimous Decision

Inoue is currently scheduled to return against Alan Picasso on December 27 in Riyadh, where a fourth consecutive win in one calendar year could provide some serious opposition to Crawford.

To use the UFC as a comparison, Ilia Topuria likely holds the single most impressive win of 2025.

However, Merab Dvalishvili set to make UFC history by defending his bantamweight title four times in December, it’s hard to argue that he hasn’t had the best year.

Terence Crawford would be just the third American fighter to win the award in 15 years

Terence Crawford would join an exclusive list of American fighters who have been named The Ring’s ‘Fighter of the Year’ in recent times.

Year	The Ring Fighter of the Year
2024	Oleksandr Usyk
2023	Naoya Inoue
2022	Dmitry Bivol
2021	Canelo Alvarez
2020	Tyson Fury and Teofimo Lopez
2019	Canelo Alvarez
2018	Oleksandr Usyk
2017	Vasyl Lomachenko
2016	Carl Frampton
2015	Tyson Fury
2014	Sergey Kovalev
2013	Adonis Stevenson
2012	Juan Manuel Marquez
2011	Andre Ward
2010	Sergio Martinez

The magnitude of Crawford’s win in September still puts him in a strong position as the fighter that most people will consider to be the favorite for the award.

However, if Naoya Inoue can end the year with a big performance against Alan Picasso, there is room for a debate.

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BOXING

Unfazed Jake Paul Mocks “Dangerous” Update From Gervonta Dav

By Admin October 19, 2025

Unfazed Jake Paul Mocks “Dangerous” Update From Gervonta Davis’ Training Camp

“Tanky Davis is in trouble.” A month ago, while sharing a fight poster, Jake Paul fired the first salvo. With just weeks left before they finally meet at Miami’s Kaseya Center, Paul’s potshots, of different colors and hues, continue to land in the 135-pound champion’s court. The YouTuber-turned-boxer and the lightweight titleholder headline an MVP (Most Valuable Promotions) – PBC card, which is now stacked with two title bouts and several other competitive fights on the undercard.

The main event has already drawn a fair share of criticism. The Jake Paul/Gervonta Davis exhibition fight will feature ten rounds of three minutes each. Its outcome will not affect their official records. Still, thankfully, the bout does not seem to exclude the thrilling elements of a regular fight, such as knockouts and TKOs. That might be why cruiserweight Paul decided to tease his rival in a fresh assault.

JUST IN: Insane Sum Anthony Joshua Could Make in Next Fight Emerges

The mind games begin: Jake Paul taunts Tank Davis

Pointing to the time left before their match, the Cleveland native wrote, “My team told me Tank is looking dangerous in camp based on intel. Shiver me timbers. 4 weeks. Miami.” Paul’s comments follow recent footage that reportedly showed Tank Davis sparring with a much bigger, presumably heavyweight fighter.

Gervonta Davis stands only 5 feet 5 inches tall against Jake Paul’s six-foot frame. In his decade-long career, the highest weight class he has ever entered was light welterweight, and that, only once. So he has to prepare himself for an overwhelmingly mismatched challenge.

My team told me Tank is looking dangerous in camp based on intel. Shiver me timbers. 4 weeks. Miami

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) October 17, 2025

However, if some of his associates’ claims are true, Davis seems to have given the bigger fighter a hard time. “Tank hit… hit him so hard that he was on the top of the ropes,” one of them told a few reporters. Even otherwise, Tank is renowned for maintaining a grueling training schedule.

Moreover, his team assured fans a month ago that his fight against Jake Paul would be different from last November’s Mike Tyson bout. Training clips of Jake Paul have also gained traction.

Size can’t save you when skill strikes

During the post-fight interview after the Tyson match, Paul took jibes at Gervonta Davis’s height, asking, “Is there a height limit in boxing?” But now that the bout is just around the corner, perhaps the 13-fight veteran realizes what he’s getting into.

Hands down, he enjoys the height and weight advantage. However, skills tell a different story. There’s a reason why Gervonta Davis has been nicknamed ‘Tank.’ With 93% of his opponents stopped inside the distance, he remains one of boxing’s foremost finishers.

Still, it would be foolish to focus only on Tank’s killer instincts. Inside that five-foot-five frame lies a remarkably sharp boxing mind. A solid blend of sublime footwork and robust defense makes Davis one of the hardest boxers to hit.

So Jake Paul is looking at the full package. The fight, which many see as a money grab, may not alter Paul’s or Davis’ records. But it nonetheless promises to deliver excitement.

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BOXING

Insane Sum Anthony Joshua Could Make in Next Fight Emerges

By Admin October 19, 2025

That’s according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, the chairman of Matchroom, who continues to deliberate over the former two-time heavyweight world boxing champion’s options, seemingly preferring a money fight.

In 32 pro bouts to date, Joshua has collected some significant wins, including those over Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin. Following back-to-back losses to No.1-ranked heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua rebounded with four wins on the spin, but came unstuck for a fourth time in his career to Daniel Dubois, last year.

Joshua is set to return, after approximately 18 months away, in early 2026. And, though he’s been linked to five probable opponents, there is one who has seemingly shot to the top of the list, and it’s all because of the extraordinary sum of money such a fight would generate.

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How Much Money Anthony Joshua Could Make in His Next Fight

The fights that fans have demanded most from AJ through the years involve those against his compatriot Tyson Fury, and American rival Deontay Wilder. Unlikely to happen next, rivals like Guido Vianello, who has called Joshua out for a bout at the Coliseum, Tony Yoka, which presents an Olympian vs Olympian format, and Martin Bakole, have all emerged as more probable comeback options.

The creator-turned-boxer Jake Paul has forged a wildly successful career in combat sport, feasting on overmatched opponents to significant audiences, and he, too, seemed like a possibility until the pugilistic troll turned to Gervonta Davis on Netflix, instead. Regardless, per Hearn, Paul remains an option providing Tank doesn’t flatten him at the Kaseya Center in Miami, mid-November.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Hearn said that “the conversation continues with Nikisa” Bidarian, who is the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions and Paul’s right-hand-man in boxing.

“They’re telling me, they want to do the Anthony Joshua fight.”

Hearn continued: “I have told them if they get chinned by Gervonta Davis, who weighs 135 pounds, how could we possibly do an Anthony Joshua fight?”

Joshua has preferences. “AJ wants to fight Tyson Fury. That’s the biggest fight out there right now.”

However, everyone has their price. “Listen, if someone wants to give us $100 million to spark Jake Paul inside a minute, who would turn that down?”

Joshua has, of course, competed in crossover events before, as he humbled the former UFC champion Francis Ngannou inside two rounds in 2024. With Hearn naming Joshua’s price in such a public forum, it’s just as likely he’s sending a message to opponents and other promoters that this is the figure it takes to successfully lure them to the negotiating table.

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