Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are starting to set up an intriguing storyline for a ring showdown in 2026.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul issued a hugely surprising call-out to former two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua this year.
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Paul and Joshua are now going back and forth over a clash
The pair spoke on a phone call where it was revealed that an extraordinary fight could take place next year.
Paul has now astonishingly revealed that the trash talk has continued behind-closed-doors.
And the American even went as far as mocking him for his KO defeat to Daniel Dubois, in savage exchanges over private messages.
He explained: “It was all nice, we’ve been cordial.
“He DM’d me today like saying “LOL” to one of my training clips and then I sent him a LOL’ with a picture of him getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois.
“And so I guess like we’re kind of s*** talking, behind the scenes a bit. But I have a lot of love for Anthony Joshua.
“I think this type of stuff is funny and he’s a great guy and I think just a fight between us would be awesome and I do believe I can win.”
Paul’s first focus will be on his upcoming tilt with former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on June 28.
Should he get past the Mexican, it could first set up a planned exhibition with Gervonta Davis at the back end of 2025.
And then Joshua would be deemed a realistic option for next year according to Paul.
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Paul is open to fighting Joshua at heavyweight but only in 2026Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix
AJ hasn’t fought since his loss to Dubois, and recently had surgery on an elbow injury.
The former Olympian is eyeing a comeback before the end of 2025 as he looks to put his name back into the world title mix.
Joshua accepted Paul’s previous call-out and insisted he’d be open to make the commercial blockbuster happen.
But the Briton’s promoter Eddie Hearn isn’t sure how authentic the call from Paul is, given how far down the line he has proposed.
He told talkSPORT.com: “Jake might be mad enough to do it.
“Because all Jake thinks about is the money, right? The money he will get for fighting AJ is obscene.
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Joshua was knocked out last year but will be making an imminent comebackCredit: GETTY
“But he doesn’t take into consideration the medical consequences that would come for a fight like that.
“There is potential that you may never see his head again after that fight.
“But he did say 2026. That’s a bit like saying I’m going to win gold in the surfing in the Olympics in 2028. You know what I mean? Why not now?
“It’s definitely not a fight that was on the radar for AJ. But in the mad world that we live in, I’d never say never.”