Speaking to Boxing News during the official weigh-in for Ring III, Hearn revealed that discussions had progressed following a conversation with Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi official behind a string of blockbuster boxing events in Riyadh.
“After speaking to His Excellency last night… in this mad world that we live in, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Hearn said, when asked about the chances of Joshua stepping into the ring with Paul.
What once seemed like outlandish fantasy matchmaking has begun to gain traction, particularly after Paul publicly called out Joshua earlier this year. The American, known as much for his brash marketing as for his 9-1 professional record, claimed in March that he could knock out the British heavyweight — a claim many laughed off, but one that clearly got Joshua’s attention.
In April, Paul stoked the fire further by claiming Joshua had reached out to him in private, hinting at mutual interest.
Hearn, ever attuned to the commercial appeal of a crossover fight, didn’t downplay the possibility.
“Our focus is to fight Tyson Fury, but [Joshua] needs a fight before then. If that’s Jake Paul and if you guys want that fight, I know the numbers would be massive, the world would want to see it,” he said.
He also claimed Joshua is open to the idea:
“I spoke to AJ about it, and he said, ‘If you want me to flatten Jake Paul, I’ll do it.’ And I know there will be a lot of happy people, but that’s what Mr. Paul dines off.”
Joshua, 34, has not fought since suffering a surprise loss to Daniel Dubois earlier this year. Although still targeting a high-profile clash with Tyson Fury, Hearn admitted that his fighter may need a tune-up bout — and a fight with Paul, however unconventional, would certainly draw global attention.
Yet not everyone in Joshua’s camp is on board with the idea.
Matchroom CEO Frank Smith took a far more dismissive stance during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, pushing back on the hype.
“I think there’s a chance you’ll see Anthony Joshua this year,” Smith said. “It’s not Jake Paul.”
He was blunt in comparing Paul’s resume to Joshua’s pedigree:
“If I were Anthony Joshua and I got an opportunity to fight a guy—that was a Disney star a few years back, no longer. Let’s be completely realistic about it.”
“(Fighting AJ) is very different from fighting a 60-year-old Mike Tyson,” Smith added, referencing Paul’s now-postponed exhibition bout with the boxing legend.
Jake Paul, for his part, has continued to leverage his influence and unorthodox rise in the sport to secure big fights and headlines. While his challenge to Joshua still raises eyebrows in traditional boxing circles, the backing of Saudi Arabia — and the potential for enormous pay-per-view numbers — makes the fight difficult to completely rule out.
For now, Joshua’s return to the ring remains unconfirmed. But in the ever-evolving world of modern boxing, the line between spectacle and sport continues to blur — and this potential clash may be the latest example.