Dana White calls Jake Paul's Joshua fight 'ballsy' but rules out Zuffa Boxing deal

Dana White has grudgingly credited Jake Paul for stepping into the ring with Anthony Joshua, calling it a ‘ballsy move’, while firmly closing the door on any future involvement with the influencer-turned-boxer through his Zuffa Boxing venture.

Paul fought Joshua in December, marking the most credible test of his boxing career to date. The former unified heavyweight champion proved the difference in the sixth round, knocking Paul out and breaking his jaw in multiple places after the YouTuber had survived five rounds.

Despite a long-running feud with Paul, White said on the Plan Bri Uncut show that he was genuinely surprised the fight happened at all. “I literally didn’t think that was going to happen,” White said. “And I said — when you go in there and box a guy like AJ, this isn’t a joke. This isn’t a game. That could kill him. And look, he literally broke his face. … It was a ballsy move getting in there with Anthony Joshua.”

However, any goodwill stops well short of a professional relationship. When asked whether Paul could have a place in Zuffa Boxing, White was unequivocal. “No. That’s not what I do,” he said. “I put the best fighters in the world against each other. From the minute that they get into the sport, all the way up to world champion, the best fight the best. There’s always going to be a place for the Paul brother type fights, but that’s not what I do. The best. I’m looking for the best fighters in the world.”

Paul is still recovering from the jaw injury sustained against Joshua, with no timetable confirmed for his return. In the meantime, his promotional outfit Most Valuable Promotions has announced a merger with the PFL, giving him plenty to focus on outside the ring.