Anthony Joshua faces a career crossroads as talks with Jake Paul intensify, but promoter Frank Warren warns a clash with Paul could damage his legacy
Anthony Joshua Next Fight negotiations are intensifying, with serious discussions around a potential bout with YouTuber Jake Paul, even as promoter Frank Warren cautions that such a fight could tarnish the former world champion’s legacy.
Also read: Tyson Fury: I Will Knock Anthony Joshua Out Within Two Rounds
The 35-year-old London 2012 Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion has struggled for a top-level win since his 2019 rematch victory over Andy Ruiz Jr., suffering defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. Now, talks with Paul are gaining traction as Joshua searches for his next move.
Warren, a 73-year-old hall-of-fame promoter, stressed that Joshua deserves a more fitting finale than facing the former Disney actor.
“He’s done magnificently…He won that gold medal in the Olympics, in London, which brought a lot of attention to the sport, and it was fabulous,” Warren said.
Fans, he noted, are still clamouring for the long-awaited all-British heavyweight unification with Tyson Fury, a showdown discussed for over a decade.
“It’s the fight everybody’s talked about for God knows how many years now,” Warren added.
While promoter Eddie Hearn has stated that Joshua’s swansong depends on Fury accepting the overdue bout, the 37-year-old has retired again, pursued a Netflix series, and renewed his wedding vows.
Warren confirmed that Fury is still training but stressed that his return to the ring is entirely his decision.
“The couple of times I have spoken to him…he HAS spoken about fighting, but I am not going to encourage him to do that, that’s down to him,” Warren said.
“It’s no secret that he goes to the gym to maintain that discipline, his physical wellbeing, but also for his mental wellbeing.”
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As Anthony Joshua’s next fight hangs in the balance, fans await clarity on whether he will pursue a legacy-defining clash with Fury or a high-profile, yet controversial, bout with Jake Paul.
