Former world champion Anthony Joshua is set to collect an extraordinary purse in his next fight.
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.
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, who 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 sports, 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 Centre 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.
