EDDIE HEARN has warned not to rule out a money-spinning fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul.
The two-time heavyweight world champion has found himself linked with the shock bout after being called out by Paul earlier in the year.
And the pair have been exchanging private messages to build towards what would be a huge but hard to believe showdown.
Paul and his promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian are due to promote Katie Taylor’s trilogy bout against Amanda Serrano with Hearn next week.
And they plan to use the historic New York event to also sit down with AJ’s promoter to discuss a potential fight in 2026.
And Hearn told SunSport: “I spoke to Nakisa last week. I don’t see that fight soon. I maybe don’t see it ever.
“You know, in this mad world, I wouldn’t rule it out because obviously the money for Jake Paul for that fight is monstrous but it comes with a huge amount of danger.
“But I don’t think he minds the danger if it comes with the money – if that makes sense?
“There’s no point fighting Gilberto Ramirez, there’s no point fighting Badou Jack, they’re just not gonna give him the money and he’s gonna get beat.
“So if you’re gonna get beat, you might as well get beat for tens of millions or even more.”
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Paul, 28, improved to 12-1 as a boxer after beating former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39.
Following his one-sided ten round points win, he called out WBA and WBO cruiserweight champ Ramirez, 34, and Jack, 41, the WBC title holder.
But Joshua was also on his ambitious hit-list and Hearn said: “For us it’s definitely not in our plans.
“I mean, AJ’s never gone to me, ‘Oh yeah, can you chase a fight with Jake Paul please?
“But if it was available, what would he do? Dunno, I’d probably say to him, ‘Go on, go and end this geezer.’”
Joshua, 35, has been out of the ring since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois, 27, in September and has since undergone elbow surgery.
Meanwhile Paul returned to cruiserweight having last November beat Mike Tyson – who controversially returned aged 58 – over eight two-minute rounds.
The American – who faced off with unified champ Ramirez – admitted he is not a heavyweight fighter but maintains he will face AJ.
He boasted: “I’m definitely not a heavyweight but I’m still gonna take the challenge.
“But you know, look at Deontay Wilder, he was beating these guys weighing 215lb.
“Granted he’s like 6’6 or something but anything is possible and I like the challenge.
“People’s criticism is fight someone in their prime, who’s a beast. I think people just want to see me lose! That’s really what the message is behind it all.
“And Anthony Joshua is an insane fight, but I want that challenge. We’ve been DMing back and forth.
“He wants to make it happen. He called me up and it’s looking very likely for next year.”
Jake Paul called out AJ after beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr[/caption]
