Jake Paul Agrees to Fight Anthony Joshua

Jake Paul, after defeating Julio César Chávez Jr. and earning a controversial WBA cruiserweight ranking, has verbally agreed to fight former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, reportedly accepting a 99-1 purse split in Joshua's favor. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh confirmed the talks and expressed his desire for Joshua to decisively end Paul's boxing career, though he conceded that a Paul win would make him a legitimate contender. Promoters and insiders, including Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn, acknowledge the fight's commercial appeal but warn it is widely considered a catastrophic mismatch and a significant risk for both fighters. The bout, if it happens, could precede Joshua's planned fight with Tyson Fury. While boxing purists criticize the matchup, fans remain sharply divided, with some mocking the spectacle and others intrigued by its crossover potential. The fight is viewed as potentially transformative for boxing's entertainment landscape.