Eddie Hearn clears up Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rumours

Eddie Hearn pours cold water on Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rumours

By Tim Rickson13 Nov 2025 · Updated 8h ago · 2 min read

Eddie Hearn pours cold water on Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rumours: "Everyone has jumped the gun"

Hearn lifts lid on potential next three fights for AJ

Despite rumours that Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul is ready to be announced, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has reported otherwise.

The 46-year-old promoter revealed his immediate fight plans for Joshua, "Our focus is on 2026. We have a big fight planned for February and big fight, hopefully, against Tyson Fury next year.

"We may run out in 2025. We are just going to have a low-key fight somewhere; if that is going to destroy the run of Mr. Paul and make tens of millions of dollars in the process, then maybe. Nothing is confirmed yet."

Anthony Joshua does not exactly fit the required criteria for a Jake Paul opponent . The YouTuber has only fought one active professional boxer... and lost. That was to British light-heavyweight Tommy Fury in 2023.

AJ is currently in the midst of the longest hiatus ever in his boxing career – over amateur and pro – to fully recover from shoulder surgery. The two-time world champion hasn't fought since his fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, 14 months ago now.

Inactivity is a common trait that Paul's team looks for in an opponent, but AJ is 35-years-old, which is slightly younger than the average of his other foes.

Paul has only fought three men under 35 and one of those was a YouTuber. His opponents have a combined age of 39, but when it comes to fighting inactive professional boxers, that average age combined is even higher, at 41.

The 28-year-old American has won against four of the five professional boxers he has faced, but those wins were against inactive opponents. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Mike Tyson, Ryan Bourland, and Andre August had fought four fights over a combined 32 years.

Tyson was fighting for the first time since 2005 – 19 years and five months ago.

Chavez Jr. had fought once in three-and-a-half-years.

Bourland had fought once in five years and five months.

August had just one fight in four years.

Tommy Fury and Mike Tyson are the only two opponents from a list of 13 who have weighed in heavier than Jake Paul on the scales.