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EDDIE HEARN sent Jake Paul a cheeky message challenging him to fight Anthony Joshua THIS YEAR… but he was brutally left on red. YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul has been leading private and direct talks to face AJ in 2026 after brazenly calling out the ex-heavyweight champion. Eddie Hearn sent Jake Paul a cheeky message challenging him to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: RexPromoter Hearn with JoshuaCredit: GettyBut Joshua’s promoter Hearn took to social media to ask Paul why the wait in a bid to get the shock fight agreed before the year’s end.Paul’s promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian told SunSport: “I think Eddie Hearn even DMd Jake and said, ‘Why not in 2025?’ And I’m sure Jake didn’t respond to him. “But again, there’s zero clickbait, 100 per cent desire to do it in 2026 is what makes sense from a Jake Paul career perspective.”Bidarian referenced our interview with Hearn where the promoter revealed he had not reached out to the American’s camp for talks.READ MORE IN boxing Hearn told us: “Once they said 2026, it’s just clickbait at that point.”I do acknowledge that Jake is crazy enough, like the Canelo stuff was quite crazy.”But at least Jake’s bigger than Canelo. He’s dwarfed by AJ in every manner.”Joshua, 35, has not fought since his September knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, 27, and a recent injury has delayed his return. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPaul, 28, meanwhile brought heavyweight great Mike Tyson, 58, out of retirement for a controversial fight on Netflix in November.He won a points decision over eight rounds with 100 MILLION watching on the streaming service.Eddie Hearn lifts lid on Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul latestIt prompted talks for Paul to face Canelo in his next bout and the two were close to confirming a May 3 deal to fight in Las Vegas. But Mexican superstar Canelo, 34, walked away at the 11th hour to sign a bumped four-bout deal with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh. Paul is now looking to announce his next opponent with another fight targeted in 2025 before three bouts next year. And Bidarian believes Joshua is a “100 per cent realistic” option for Paul next year with Canelo also joining the wish-list. He said: “Jake hasn’t been in the ring with someone that has the power that Joshua has in this current time.”Mike Tyson, much more devastating knockout artist than Anthony Joshua in his career, but the Mike Tyson Jake fought wasn’t that same Mike Tyson, obviously.”So Jake has to get to a point where he feels confident that he can take those types of punches from someone like Joshua.”I know from Jake’s perspective, he doesn’t believe that Joshua will land, but you have to be prepared that he does land and, and how do you deal with that.”But that’s what makes it exciting. I mean, yes, Joshua is a much bigger man in terms of height and reach than Mike Tyson.”And that will possess its own challenges for Jake Paul, but Jake doesn’t say something if he doesn’t feel confident about it.Read More on The Sun”He’s been pretty clear, he doesn’t want to fight David Benavidez. He doesn’t believe he can beat David Benavidez in any time frame of his career arc. “But, he wants to fight Canelo Alvarez, he wants to fight Anthony Joshua. Those are two names that he’s dead set on and feels very good about.”Anthony Joshua pictured with Jake Paul in 2022 More

TOMMY FURY has been slammed for turning down “multiple offers” to rematch Jake Paul – and faces losing out on the fight forever.Fury, 25, beat Paul, 28, via split-decision in 2023 and became the first and so far only man to hand the YouTuber-turned-boxer a loss.Jake Paul was beaten by Tommy Fury in 2023Credit: GettyTalk of a rematch has ensued ever since but Paul’s team claim Fury rejected a $6million (£4.5m) offer to do it on Netflix last year. The money could have risen to $8m (£6m) but now Fury risks forfeiting the mega-money fight all together. Paul’s promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian told SunSport: “Tommy was offered an unbelievable deal to headline versus Jake on Netflix and they had a false sense of expectations.”Jake’s not gonna ever offer him that kind of money again. Now if Tommy Fury showed up and said, ‘Jake, here is $20million to fight me and I’m gonna make $20million.’ Right, all the power to you.READ MORE IN BOXING”But they’ve never made an offer once. And we’ve made multiple offers to try to make that rematch happen.  “And if you’re very confident that you’re gonna be Jake Paul, you should have jumped at the opportunity to fight him for $6million plus upside on Netflix.”It’s just beyond ridiculous that they didn’t.”Paul has won five times since the points loss in Saudi Arabia – most recently against Mike Tyson. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTyson accepted the fight – in place of Fury – under controversial terms due to his age. He was 58 by the time he lost an eight-round decision to Paul – but still over 100 MILLION tuned in to watch on Netflix. Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul is ‘five times’ bigger than Tyson Fury boutFury meanwhile has fought just once since victory over Paul – beating the American’s arch rival KSI, 31, via disputed decision in October 2023.He underwent hand surgery afterwards and pulled out of his scheduled return in January after ex-UFC star Darren Till threatened to KICK him in the ring. Fury has always maintained he spent 2024 out injured nursing his busted hand – suffering a secret battle with depression while doing so. But Bidarian revealed that was not Fury’s reasoning for rejecting their offers to rematch Paul. He said: “That was never mentioned. They were turning it down because they wanted a lot more money.”The only place where Tommy Fury can make anything close to the numbers that Jake Paul offers Tommy Fury is to fight, KSI again.”That’s just being transparent and if that’s what he chooses to do, good for him, that’s not boxing, that’s, that’s a different form of the sport, as you know.Read More on The Sun”It’s not truly viewed as professional boxing but if that’s what he chooses to do, 100 per cent we understand.”But Jake’s at a point where he doesn’t need Tommy Fury to have his career continue to rise. Tommy Fury definitely needs Jake Paul.” Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson on pointsCredit: Reuters – USA Today SportsTommy Fury has not returned since beating KSI in October 2023Credit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been told a fight with Jake Paul would be FIVE TIMES bigger than against Tyson Fury. AJ has been in shock talks to face Paul next year after being called out by the YouTuber-turned-boxer.Jake Paul called out Anthony JoshuaCredit: GettyJoshua and Jake Paul agreed to fight in 2026Credit: GettyAJ has been told a fight with Jake Paul is even bigger than Tyson FuryCredit: GettyAnd Paul’s promotional and business partner Nakisa Bidarian argued there is no bigger bout for Joshua globally – including his greatest rival Fury.Bidarian told SunSport: “Ultimately Jake versus Joshua is three, four or five times bigger than Joshua versus Fury, easily. Not in the UK, the UK I think they’re similar.”But on a global basis, it’s not even in the realm of the same conversation in terms of magnitude, scale, reach, interest, viewership, it would just blow it away.”Joshua and Fury are not relevant in the US, meaning the hardcore boxing community will pay attention, but it’s not a moment where mainstream culture stops and pays attention to it.READ MORE IN BOXING”In the UK, absolutely but you’ll have that with Jake and Joshua as well.”Joshua looked to quite literally call Paul’s bluff as he phoned up the American after his viral callout. And Paul is also ready to ignore AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn’s challenge to accept the fight this year. Bidarian said: “I won’t get into what they discussed, but yes, I’m fully aware of the multiple conversations they’ve had and a desire to fight each other in 2026.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”I saw Eddie Hearn made a comment around ‘Why 2026? Why not in 2025? It’s just clickbait.’ No, it’s not clickbait.”Jake realises he needs some more in-ring experience to be in the best position to hold his own against Anthony Joshua. So we’re not rushing into a fight against Joshua.Eddie Hearn lifts lid on Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul latest”We’re not financially dependent on Jake having a fight against Anthony Joshua for 2025 for our business to flourish.”We’re gonna do at least two Jake Paul fights in 2025, and then we’ll definitely sit down with the appropriate parties to look at Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua in 2026.”Joshua, 35, has not yet fought since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois, 27, in September with a recent injury backdating his return. Paul, 28, meanwhile brought Mike Tyson out of retirement at the age of 58 in November in a bout marred in controversy amid the age difference. He won over eight rounds and despite the surrounding scrutiny – over 100 MILLION tuned in on Netflix to watch. It prompted talks for Paul to fight Canelo Alvarez in Vegas in May – but the Mexican instead signed a four-bout deal with Saudi’s Turki Alalshikh.Paul is now closing in on announcing what will be the first of two bouts in 2025 before a further three are targeted for next year. And Bidarian – co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul – named Joshua and Canelo as opponents on the wish-list. Jake versus Joshua is three, four or five times bigger than Joshua versus Fury, easilyJake Paul’s promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian He said: “I think it’s 100 per cent a realistic fight. Jake hasn’t been in the ring with someone that has the power that Joshua has in this current time.”Mike Tyson, much more devastating knockout artist than Anthony Joshua in his career, but the Mike Tyson that Jake fought wasn’t that same Mike Tyson, obviously.”So Jake has to get to a point where he feels confident that he can take those types of punches from someone like Joshua.”I know from Jake’s perspective, he doesn’t believe that Joshua will land, but you have to be prepared that he does land and how do you deal with that.”But that’s what makes it exciting. I mean, yes, Joshua is a much bigger man in terms of height and reach than Mike Tyson.”And that will possess its own challenges for Jake Paul, but Jake doesn’t say something if he doesn’t feel confident about it.”He’s been pretty clear, he doesn’t want to fight David Benavidez. He doesn’t believe he can beat David Benavidez in any time frame of his career, but he wants to fight Canelo Alvarez, he wants to fight Anthony Joshua.”Those are two names that he’s dead set on and feels very good about.”Joshua and Paul both took to social media to show on their phone call – but pleasantries could soon be traded for punches. Read More on The SunHe said: “I don’t think there’s any animosity at this point in time between the two of them. “But I’m sure if the fight is made and Jake is Jake, there will be lots of animosity between them. And we would look forward to that.”Joshua with Jake Paul in Dubai in 2022 More