Eddie Hearn Names ‘Absolute Frontrunner’ to be Anthony Joshua’s Next Opponent

Following his comprehensive knockout loss to Daniel Dubois back in September of last year, Anthony Joshua is currently plotting his return to the ring, with one frontrunner being named that could split fans as the two-time world champion prepares to step through the ropes once again after a long period out of action.

In his previous bout, coming off a four-win streak after victories over the likes of Francis Ngannou, Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius, and Jermaine Franklin, Joshua suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of fellow Brit Dubois, being knocked out in the fifth round.

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After Tyson Fury revealed that he has ‘zero’ interest in clashing with Anthony Joshua at the moment, the next frontrunner for the Olympic gold medal winner to take on has been revealed, in a move that could leave fans divided, with the British star set to take on a less-than-traditional opponent.

“Too old, look at my beard, all grey. Boxing is a young man’s game,” Fury revealed, speaking in an interview at Doncaster Racecourse recently, potentially slamming the door shut on a bout with Joshua after his loss to Oleksandr Usyk back in December.

However, following the potential end to the long-awaited fight between the two British stars, another boxer has been named as the frontrunner for Joshua’s next fight, one that could not be more different than The Gypsy King.

Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight

Speaking to iFL TV, iconic promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that he has met with the promotional company for Joshua’s next opponent, in a move that could leave fans divided, as the boxer in question has been a divisive figure in the community over the last few years.

“The thing that I wanted to understand is, do they really want to fight AJ or is this just a publicity stunt. And I am 99% sure they want to fight Anthony Joshua. Right now, the absolute frontrunner for AJ is Jake Paul, February or March next year,” Hearn revealed.

Over the last few years, The Problem Child has tried to pursue a career in boxing, with fans questioning whether he truly belongs in the sport due to the quality of his opponents, taking part in questionable bouts, such as against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson.

However, despite taking part in multiple ‘exhibitions’ and matches, the YouTuber-turned-boxing star has stepped into the ring against some real opponents, holding his own in what was ultimately a defeat against the younger Fury brother in Tommy Fury.

In the recent interview, Hearn revealed that despite the potential dangers of Paul stepping between the ropes against one of the best boxers in the world, the commercial value far outweighs the risks, despite the fight not appearing to be ‘overly competitive.’

With Hearn, who is also Joshua’s promoter, revealing that the clock could be ticking on the British star’s career, predicting that 2026 may be his final year, a decision on his next opponent can be expected in the coming months, looking to potentially finish his career in a commercial blockbuster clash against Paul.

Anthony Joshua and his next opponent in boxing appear close to locking in an agreement for a heavyweight spectacle in the coming months, and that raises alarm bells for the former two-time champion’s long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, who is the chairman of flourishing British sports firm Matchroom.

Joshua has beaten a who’s who of big-name fighters in his division throughout the years, including Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, and Otto Wallin. He has not fought, though, since his brutal fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois — which took place at Wembley Stadium in London almost one year ago — and is not expected to return to the ring until “early 2026.”

Oleksandr Usyk, who has beaten Joshua twice already, owns all of the heavyweight world titles right now, and Joshua’s long-time rival Tyson Fury remains retired. This leaves few obvious opponents for AJ to fight, however, of all the names linked to the superstar fighter, there is one who is “a very real” candidate to fight Joshua, according to Hearn.

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Why Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight Concerns Boxing Promoter Eddie Hearn

Hearn sees the bout as a mismatch

The fight is a “dangerous” one, said Hearn when talking to Ring Magazine.

Previously, Hearn had said Whyte, Jared Anderson, and even Deontay Wilder were in the running to box Joshua next. Yet a new candidate has emerged as a “50-50” probability to fight the Brit because of what Hearn sees as the enormous financial viability of the showdown.

“This is very real,” Hearn added, regarding a crossover contest involving Jake Paul.

Hearn said that he and Paul’s business partner and Most Valuable Promotions co-founder, Nikisa Bidarian, had an hour-long chat on July 30 to discuss the likelihood of the improbable worlds of Paul, and Joshua, colliding.

“And now, because of the size of the fight, it leads me to believe there’s a very good chance it could happen. If I had to rate that chance I would say it’s 50:50. It was a very positive conversation and we expect that conversation to extend over the coming weeks.”

One obstacle block in the match-up regards weight, as Paul is typically a cruiserweight. Joshua, though, is an established heavyweight who is an effective giant at 6-foot-6 and around 250 pounds in weight. But Hearn insists both guys would weigh a similar amount on the night. As much as there could be people who point at Joshua’s decline, or to Paul’s gradual developments, but Hearn, still, struggles to “justify” a “mismatch.”

Hearn continued: “I think Joshua is probably yet to get his head round it until he knows that it’s a possibility. After my call this week I’d say it’s definitely a possibility. AJ understands the commercial world and will look at this and see that it’s huge. It would probably be the biggest fight that could ever happen anywhere. It would be right up there with his biggest purses ever. You can talk about the boxing world but this would be the outer world.”

It is the type of contest Joshua has willingly engaged in before, considering he took on the former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, and dispatched of him with ease because of a brutal, second-round knockout. There is a motivation in doing the same to Paul, so that the former creator and YouTube star’s run in boxing can finally come to an end, Hearn said.

“This is dangerous. This is like tuning in to watch David Blaine but much more dangerous and much more real. You’re not trying to escape from a box in three minutes, you’re in there with one of the biggest punchers of all time and it isn’t a game.

“It’s never I’ve called for or told people we’re targeting this but I do also understand the colossal size of this fight commercially and probably the appetite from a lot of people to evaporate Jake Paul from the boxing world. That is probably what this does.”