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Anthony Joshua could return in 2025 as Matchroom CEO speaks out on Jake Paul clash
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith has hinted that Anthony Joshua could return to the ring before the end of 2025, whilst also refusing to rule out a bout between his fighter and Jake Paul.
Joshua has not fought since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September 2024, with the former unified heavyweight world champion currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on his elbow in May.
Throughout 2025 speculation has linked Joshua with an all-British battle with Tyson Fury , another ex-world champion.
The long-rumoured fight felt closer than ever to materialising earlier on in the year, but recent developments have seen Fury claim that he will come out of retirement in 2026 to face Oleksandr Usyk in a trilogy bout instead.
According to Smith, Joshua, who has fought at least once every year since turning professional in 2013, could be in action in the final months of 2025, but he has ruled out a clash with Paul for now.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Smith said: “I think there is a chance you see Anthony Joshua this year. Not [against] Jake Paul.”
Smith’s mention of Paul stemmed from the American calling Joshua out in the aftermath of his victory over Julio César Chávez Jr live on DAZN at the end of June.
In a recent interview, Paul claimed that the fight was "gonna happen". revealing that he had exchanged private messages with Joshua over social media.
He told iFL TV : “He said he’ll do two more fights, I’ll do two more fights, and then we’ll do it in 2026. He said he’ll kill me, and I’ll have to fight for my life.”
Whilst insisting that no one at Matchroom had held any discussions with members of Paul’s camp regarding a potential Joshua fight, Smith added: “Look, a lot of people will laugh at him, I think if I was Anthony Joshua and I got the opportunity to fight a guy who was a Disney star a few years back – I don’t discredit what [Paul has done], he’s put the effort in – but fighting Anthony Joshua is very different to fighting a 60-year-old Mike Tyson. Let’s be completely realistic about it.”
Smith went on to state the financial pull Paul brings to a fight would be hard for any fighter to turn down.
He continued: “He’s a tremendous marketeer, isn't he? That is what he does.
“If you’re a fighter and you say you can get paid this to fight someone who is really good, or - and no disrespect meant to him, but he’s not at the level of these guys, he’s not Canelo, Anthony Joshua – you could get paid this to fight this guy. I don’t blame them.”
Asked what he knew about whether Joshua-Paul was truly on the cards, Smith responded: “I think as much as the screen grabs as you’ve seen, as far as it’s real or not. But again, in boxing, who would have said that Jake Paul would have fought Mike Tyson. You can write so many things off, but it is a mad business.”
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