British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua has delivered a sharp warning to Jake Paul after the American YouTuber-turned-boxer mocked his past knockout defeats, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Paul, 28, revealed in an interview with The Sun that he had been in private contact with the former two-time heavyweight champion earlier this year. During their exchanges, Paul admitted to taunting Joshua over his knockout losses — a move that drew a stern and ominous response from the 35-year-old fighter.
“The last thing he said to me was something like, ‘I can’t wait to fight. You’re gonna be fighting for your life, and then you’ll understand what I’ve been through,’” Paul recalled. “That was the last time I heard from him.”
The tension between the two has sparked fresh speculation about a potential showdown in the future. Paul, who thrives on high-stakes drama, said he would relish the chance to face Joshua on British soil.
“My first fight was in front of an English crowd — it was rowdy,” Paul said. “I love walking into the lions’ den. So, me versus Anthony Joshua, with 100,000 people chanting ‘f*** Jake Paul’? That would be pretty fun.”
Joshua, currently recovering from elbow surgery, has not fought since suffering a knockout loss to fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in September. Despite his recent inactivity, he remains a dominant name in the heavyweight division.
Paul, meanwhile, continues to blur the lines between entertainment and professional boxing. His high-profile exhibition against the legendary Mike Tyson attracted over 100 million viewers on Netflix. Although Paul won the eight-round bout, the match faced backlash due to Tyson’s age and limited mobility.
Returning to more competitive action, Paul recently secured a convincing points victory over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., bolstering his campaign to be taken seriously in the boxing world.
Looking ahead, Paul said he’s focused on climbing the rankings and chasing a title opportunity.
“I think it’s back to the drawing board after this — especially depending on how the WBC and WBA rank me,” he said. “If they place me in a position to fight for a world championship, we’re going to try and make it happen.”
While a bout with Joshua remains speculative, the war of words has added another layer of intrigue to Paul’s unorthodox boxing journey — and AJ’s potential return to the ring.
