Featured Image Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Jake Paul, Sport, Boxing, Anthony Joshua
Brenna Cooper
Topics: Jake Paul, Sport, Boxing, Anthony Joshua
Jake Paul leaked a message he received from former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, before challenging him to a fight in the UK.
Former YouTuber Paul has faced numerous controversies since making the pivot from content creation to combat sport.
Nicknamed the 'Problem Child', the 28-year-old has completed 13 professional fights since his amateur debut against KSI's younger brother Deji Olatunji in Manchester back in 2018.
However, the overwhelming majority of his fights have been against older boxers, with Paul's only loss being against Tommy Fury in 2023.
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The Problem Child's recent victory against Julio César Chávez Jr has seen him being accused of 'killing boxing' due to his choice in opponents.
But it would appear that Paul has lofty ambitions in the boxing world, challenging Anthony Joshua to face him in the ring.
Revealing a series of DMs between himself and AJ in an interview with The Sun, Paul claimed the 35-year-old 'can't wait to fight' him.
"That was the last one," Paul said, before referencing the message which allegedly read: "I can't wait to fight. you're gonna be fighting for your life and you'll know the feeling that I've gone through.' Or something like that."
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Joshua has since undergone elbow surgery earlier this year, which has delayed his return to the sport.
According to Paul, the message followed his decision to taunt AJ over his last fight, a 2024 bout against Daniel Dubois which ended in a loss.
The former content creator then revealed that he'd love to face Joshua in the UK, adding: "I love walking into the lions' den and so me vs Anthony Joshua, 100,000 people chanting 'f**k Jake Paul' would be pretty fun for me.
"My first fight was in front of an English crowd and it's rowdy."
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Paul also made sure to call out Joshua in his post match speech after beating Chávez Jr, telling DAZN: "I want tougher fighters. I want to be world champion."
Going on to call out Joshua as well as suggesting the idea of a rematch against Fury, he continued: "Badou Jack. I want everybody. Anthony Joshua, Gervonta [Davis]. And Tommy [Fury], stop running.
"I’m hustling, getting warmed up. You’ve already seen my face hella. Get used to seeing it more."
Paul then revealed he wants to be ready for his next fight 'as soon as possible', declaring: "I’m staying active, I’m fighting everybody."
Looks like everyone calling for Paul to face a tougher opponent may soon get their wish after all.
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LADbible has contacted representatives of Anthony Joshua for comment.