British heavyweight star Dillian Whyte has stirred fresh debate in the boxing world by proposing a blockbuster fight between Nigerian-born heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. According to Whyte, the high-profile clash could generate huge pay-per-view sales and potentially earn Joshua more money than some of his world title bouts.
“It’s a business, man. If Joshua vs Paul makes sense and draws in viewers, why not?” Whyte told BBC reporters. “Joshua has been a two-time world champion, he’s achieved a lot, so if there’s an opportunity to make big money, go for it.”
Despite floating the idea of the Joshua-Paul spectacle, Whyte made it clear he still has “unfinished business” with Joshua himself. The two first clashed in a heated 2015 British title fight, which Joshua won. A rematch scheduled for 2023 was scrapped after Whyte failed a drug test, a charge he says he has since been cleared of before making his comeback in March 2024.
Now 37, Whyte is gearing up to face rising sensation Moses Itauma in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, a fight in which he is considered the underdog. Itauma, just 20 years old, has quickly built a reputation as one of boxing’s most feared young prospects, stopping 10 of his 12 opponents since turning professional.
Read Also:
- Anthony Joshua’s camp debunks potential clash with Martin
- Anthony Joshua accused of shunning Chinese boxer Zhilei
- Anthony Joshua gifts Tinubu autographed glove in Lagos
“Part of why I’m taking on Itauma is because I love challenges,” Whyte said. “Nobody wants to fight him, but I enjoy proving people wrong and doing what they say is impossible. The underdog is a very dangerous opponent.”
Whyte’s career has seen highs and lows, including a 2022 title shot loss to Tyson Fury and recent struggles to regain top form. While he stopped Ebenezer Tetteh in December, he admits it wasn’t his best performance. Still, his sights remain on another shot at heavyweight gold, acknowledging Oleksandr Usyk as the best of the current era but insisting he’s ready to try again.
As talk of an Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight grows louder, boxing fans are split between seeing it as a lucrative entertainment spectacle and viewing it as a distraction from more competitive matchups. Either way, Whyte’s latest comments have reignited interest in both his own career and Joshua’s next move and if he gets his way, the world might see both fights happen.
