Jake Paul’s got big dreams, but Eddie Hearn’s throwing cold water on them. The Matchroom Boxing promoter, speaking to talkSPORT, warned that Paul’s callout of heavyweight star Anthony Joshua could end badly for the YouTube-turned-boxer. Fresh off Paul’s unanimous decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28, 2025, Hearn sees the money in a Joshua fight but calls it a catastrophic mismatch. While he respects Paul’s hustle, he’s worried the cruiserweight could get seriously hurt.
Hearn’s Take on Paul’s Challenge
Hearn didn’t hold back.
“Look, [Paul is] calling out Gervonta Davis, who is a 135-pound lightweight, and he’s calling out Anthony Joshua, that’s a heavyweight monster,” he told talkSPORT. “I think Jake Paul is crazy enough to fight Anthony Joshua because the money would be absolutely obscene. It’s a catastrophic mismatch that people would tune in to watch because it would lead to the end of Jake Paul. Hopefully, not literally, but it’s that dangerous. It’s a fight that I don’t think should really happen if I’m honest. [Joshua is] not exactly looking at Jake Paul going, ‘Oh, that’s my dream opponent.’ Would he go in there and give him a hiding for a massive chunk of money? Probably. I’d like to see it.”
Paul, 28, has been climbing the boxing ranks since his 2020 pro debut. With a 12-1 record and 7 knockouts, he’s beaten former UFC stars like Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, Mike Perry, and Ben Askren, plus Chavez Jr., a former WBC middleweight champ. The WBA ranked him No. 14 in the cruiserweight division in July 2025, a nod Hearn credits to commercial interests.
“A lot of these governing bodies, although they’re governing bodies, some of them are commercially led and think it’s gonna benefit them to have Jake Paul in their rankings,” Hearn said. “I think Jake Paul is in the top hundred in the world in the cruiserweight division. And by the way, I don’t think that’s an awful achievement given the fact this guy found boxing in his mid-twenties. I think he’s doing well, I think he’s improving. Is he world class? Absolutely not. But he is improving and he’s a lot better than a lot of fighters out there. So in a way, good luck! I can’t believe I’ve said it, but in a way, good luck.” via MMAMania
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 17, 1997, Paul started as a Vine star, moved to YouTube, and acted on Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark. He began boxing in 2018 with an amateur win over Deji Olatunji and turned pro in 2020, knocking out AnEsonGib. His only loss was to Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul’s fights, often on DAZN pay-per-view, draw huge audiences due to his 26 million Instagram followers and bold callouts, including Joshua, Gervonta Davis, and Gilberto Ramirez.
Joshua, 35, born in Watford, England, on October 15, 1989, is a two-time heavyweight champ. He won Olympic gold in 2012 and turned pro, amassing a 28-4 record with 25 knockouts. He claimed the IBF title in 2016, added WBA and WBO belts in 2017, and regained them in 2019 after a loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. His knockout of Francis Ngannou in March 2024 showed his power, but a September 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois for the IBF title halted his streak. After elbow surgery, Joshua plans to return in late 2025, with talks of a Tyson Fury fight in 2026.
Hearn’s warning highlights the size gap, Joshua’s 6 foot 6 frame and 82-inch reach dwarf Paul’s cruiserweight build. While Paul’s win over Chavez Jr. at Anaheim’s Honda Center earned praise, Hearn believes Joshua’s experience and power make this fight dangerous. Paul’s team, per posts on X, has been in talks with Joshua’s camp, but Hearn says Joshua isn’t chasing Paul as a dream opponent. Still, the money might tempt both sides.
