A major boxing clash could be on the horizon as Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh asserts that YouTube sensation Jake Paul has given the green light to face former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Alalshikh, the influential chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, views this potential bout as a strategic move with significant implications for both fighters.
According to Alalshikh, Paul’s acceptance sets the stage for a high-stakes encounter. From his perspective, a victory for Joshua would effectively “finish” the “headache” that Jake Paul represents in the boxing world. Conversely, if Paul were to emerge victorious, it would undeniably cement his status as a legitimate contender and potentially earn him a coveted ranking within the sport.
While the prospect of Paul, primarily a cruiserweight, stepping up to face a seasoned heavyweight like Joshua might raise eyebrows, the financial allure of such a spectacle in combat sports often overrides traditional matchmaking. The article notes Paul’s recent win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., while Joshua is coming off a defeat to Daniel Dubois. A potential obstacle to the fight’s realization is the strained relationship between Paul and Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn. However, even Hearn acknowledges the immense commercial appeal and public interest that a Paul vs. Joshua fight would generate, especially as Joshua seeks a significant bout before a potential showdown with Tyson Fury.