Anthony Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn’s hopes for a mega-million-dollar fight against the hugely popular social media icon Jake Paul have fallen apart over “network issues.” Jake will instead fight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition on Netflix on November 15th at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Matchroom promoter Hearn has yet to give his thoughts on the breakdown in talks between Joshua and Jake Paul. It’s a fight that Hearn was eager to make, viewing it as the “biggest fight in boxing” and one that would bring in a lot of money to AJ.
The Power of Jake Paul’s Influence
The 28-year-old Jake Paul is in a position where he has negotiating muscle to get favorable terms against even the biggest stars in the sport, like Joshua.
Jake Paul’s Social Media Following
- YouTube: 20.9 million subscribers
- Instagram: 28.7 million followers
- X (Twitter): 4.6 million followers
- TikTok: 18.5 million followers
Boxing expert Mike Coppinger revealed on his X account today that the Joshua vs. Paul talks have broken down due to a network problem. It’s a fight that many fans were looking forward to because it would have given them a chance to see if the 35-year-old Joshua’s chin is still sturdy enough to withstand a hard shot from a young, ambitious fighter who would be coming to make a name for himself in the pro ranks.
Joshua’s Options After Paul
Unless something changes, Joshua’s options for his next fight are less appealing. 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka. That one has been mentioned as potentially being staged in Ghana. It wouldn’t create nearly as much interest as a fight between Joshua and Jake Paul, as Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) doesn’t have a large following on social media.
Going from a big-money fight against Jake Paul to a much smaller one against the 6’7″ Yoka has to be disappointing for Hearn and Joshua. On the positive side, it’s winnable for Joshua, and he has a good chance of scoring a highlight reel knockout. Financially, it’s not in the same class as a bout against Jake Paul. The payday AJ would have received would have been enormous.
Last Updated on 08/20/2025