Anthony Joshua has issued a stark warning to Jake Paul following their private message exchanges, telling the YouTuber-turned-boxer to be careful what he wishes for.
The former heavyweight world champion sent Paul a menacing final message after the American had taunted him about his previous knockout defeats.
Paul revealed Joshua's last direct message: "He said, '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."
The 28-year-old American confirmed this was their final exchange, stating: "That was the last one."
Jake Paul has his sights set on a fight with Anthony Joshua
ReutersThe private messages began after Paul called out Joshua earlier this year, with the social media star deliberately goading the British fighter over his losses in the ring.
Paul has expressed his desire to face Joshua in front of a hostile British crowd, embracing the prospect of being the villain in his opponent's home territory.
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The American fighter told SunSport: "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."
This wouldn't be Paul's first experience with British boxing fans, as his professional journey began with an exhibition bout in Manchester against Deji, brother of his YouTube rival KSI.
He reflected on that experience, saying: "My first fight was in front of an English crowd and it's rowdy."
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Anthony Joshua could be fighting Jake Paul soonGettyThe 28-year-old appears to relish the challenge of performing in front of crowds who actively root against him. Paul returns to the ring on Saturday at cruiserweight against former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, with significant implications for his boxing future.
The 28-year-old American revealed that victory could secure him a WBC ranking, potentially opening the door to a world championship opportunity. Paul said: "I think it's back to the drawing board after this, especially depending on what the WBC and WBA rank me after I win."
He added: "If they rank me in the position where I can go for a world championship, then we're gonna try and get that done." A strong performance against the 39-year-old Chavez Jr could position Paul to challenge for Badou Jack's WBC cruiserweight belt.
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The fight represents a crucial step in Paul's ambitions to transition from celebrity boxing to legitimate world title contention. Paul brings an 11-1 professional record into tonight's bout, with his sole defeat coming against Tommy Fury in 2023.
The American has been a professional for five years, building his career from YouTube celebrity to legitimate boxing contender.
His most recent outing proved both controversial and commercially successful, as he defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson over eight rounds in a bout watched by over 100 million viewers on Netflix.
Badou Jack could face Jake Paul for his WBC title
Getty
His cruiserweight contest against Chavez Jr marks Paul's return to a more conventional weight class after the Tyson spectacle.
Victory could see him pursue Badou Jack's WBC cruiserweight title, representing a significant step towards legitimate championship credentials.
Meanwhile, Joshua hasn't competed since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September and has undergone elbow surgery during his absence from the ring.
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