JAKE PAUL has revealed what Anthony Joshua told him over the phone following his blistering blast and viral callout.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul audaciously vowed to
And looked to quite literally call the American's bluff by phoning up to confront him.
The pair then – with Paul opening up on his impromptu chat with Joshua.
He said after the Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano press conference: “We're going to plan that for 2026. I talked to Anthony on the phone.
“He called me up and said, ‘I saw you call me out, let's run it. Let's make it happen.'”
Paul moved up to heavyweight for his last fight when he controversially brought out of retirement aged 58.
He weighed 16st 2lb and won over eight rounds – with 100 MILLION watching in what was Netflix's first live boxing event.
But Paul would still be TWO STONE lighter than Joshua, 35, who was 18st for his September KO loss to Daniel Dubois, 27.
The American sent social media into a frenzy – and hit out at the 2012 Olympic gold medallist.
Paul, 28, said: “I want to fight Anthony Joshua – exclusive – because I know I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua's ass.
“He doesn't have a chin, and he has no skill and he's stiff. I love you Anthony, we'e friends, all this s*** but I want to fight you.”
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed to SunSport that – and called to make it happen THIS YEAR.
But Paul's promotional partner, Nakisa Bidarian, hit back: “I saw Eddie Hearn made a comment around ‘Why 2026? Why not in 2025? It's just clickbait.' No, it's not clickbait.
“Jake realises he needs some more in-ring experience to be in the best position to hold his own against Anthony Joshua. So we're not rushing into a fight against Joshua.
“We're not financially dependent on Jake having a fight against Anthony Joshua for 2025 for our business to flourish.
“We're gonna do at least two Jake Paul fights in 2025, and then we'll definitely sit down with the appropriate parties to look at Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua in 2026.”
Paul was close to announcing shock 200lb cruiserweight fight with Canelo Alvarez on May 3 in Las Vegas.
But Canelo, 34, to instead sign a four-bout deal with Saudi's Turki Alalshikh.
Paul then considered an – who is seven stone lighter.
But Davis, 30, is set to rematch Lamont Roach, 29, in the summer following their controversial draw.
Paul is due to reveal his next fight but said: “We do have an announcement next week but I'm just not going to leak anything.
“We've had these fights pulled twice now at the one-yard line, Canelo, Gervonta, so I'm just not going to jinx it and say anything.”
