Tyson Fury drops jaw-dropping forecast for potential Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua showdown

The idea of Jake Paul stepping into the ring with Anthony Joshua might sound like pure fantasy to most boxing fans—but Tyson Fury is treating it like a serious proposition.

Paul has steadily built a controversial yet growing career in professional boxing. With 13 fights under his belt, he’s transitioned from social media celebrity to a figure with actual ring credentials—although his opponents have primarily been retired MMA fighters or past-their-prime boxers. Still, recent wins over Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. have reignited conversations about the 27-year-old’s place in the sport.

Now, in a shocking twist, Fury has thrown his weight behind Paul in the event of a potential mega-fight against Joshua. In an interview with iFL TV, the former heavyweight champion didn’t hold back: “Jake Paul chins ‘AJ’ if they fight. 100% [serious]. If they fight, I’m putting a million pounds on Jake Paul. 100%.”

Joshua’s layoff and Paul’s rise fuel speculation

Anthony Joshua last entered the ring in September 2024, where he suffered a punishing fifth-round stoppage at the hands of Daniel Dubois. Since then, the IBF belt has moved on to Oleksandr Usyk, and Joshua himself has undergone minor elbow surgery while eyeing a return to action later in 2025.

Tyson Fury reacts following defeat in the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed World Heavyweight titles’ fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2, Reignited card at Kingdom Arena on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Although there’s no confirmed opponent for Joshua’s comeback, his promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently acknowledged that exploratory talks were held with Jake Paul’s team. That admission has only added fuel to the swirling speculation about an unprecedented crossover fight.

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Fury, who declared his retirement earlier this year after a second loss to Usyk, has remained active in the media. He’s repeatedly teased a comeback but insists that only marquee names—such as a trilogy bout with Usyk or high-stakes clashes against Dubois or Joshua—would tempt him back into the ring.

For now, the idea of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua remains firmly in the realm of “unlikely but possible,” with Fury’s endorsement adding a bizarre layer of intrigue to an already chaotic heavyweight picture.