Jake Paul indicates he is finally preparing to step into the ring against the kind of high-level opponent his detractors have long called for – and he anticipates this significant challenge arriving next year.
This past Saturday, Paul added another victory to his professional boxing record, securing a unanimous decision win over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in their cruiserweight contest held in Anaheim, California. The performance was perceived as somewhat underwhelming by some observers, as Paul appeared noticeably larger than the 39-year-old Chavez. This outcome continued to fuel criticism that Paul deliberately selects opponents who are either undersized or past their prime. However, Paul himself views this particular win as a pivotal moment, signalling a transition towards a more serious and dedicated boxing journey.
Reflecting on his past challenges, Paul stated in his post-fight press conference when asked to compare this fight to his earlier loss against Tommy Fury, “I don’t even think I was a fighter then. That was two years, two-and-a-half years into the sport, and I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t have the right team around me, the proper team around me, the proper conditioning. My lifestyle outside of the ring was still like a YouTube, celebrity, actor, whatever I was at the time. I wasn’t fully focused on boxing.”
He elaborated on his current perspective, “This feels like chapter one is done tonight, now we’re moving on to chapter two and I’m just getting warmed up in this sport. People hold the Tommy Fury thing against me, but what now? I just beat a former world champion, and I’m coming to avenge that loss, as well, with Tommy.”
Paul suffered a split decision defeat to Fury in 2023, a result often cited by critics to argue he is not a legitimate boxer, despite his self-promotion. Since that loss, the prominent former YouTuber has achieved six consecutive wins, although his opponents, such as the 58-year-old Mike Tyson (against whom a bout was initially scheduled last November), did little to dissuade the long-standing criticism. However, aligning with his stated shift towards facing more serious competition, Paul is now focusing on a significantly more formidable and age-appropriate opponent: former unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s business partner, confirmed the target: “That’s the main one that we’ve talked a lot about. If it’s not for the title, it’s looking at Tommy, if he’s reasonable, and then Anthony Joshua. And he’s adamant that he wants to make that fight happen at the end of 2026. We’re going to meet with Matchroom while we’re in New York.”
At 35 years old, Anthony Joshua is a former unified heavyweight champion and is widely recognized as one of the most dangerous punchers of his generation. His recent bouts include a devastating knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March 2024, followed by a stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September of the same year during their IBF heavyweight title contest. For Paul, a matchup against Joshua would represent an enormous leap in competitive level, yet “The Problem Child” maintains he is prepared for the challenge.
Addressing the potential size disadvantage and his motivation, Paul stated, “I’m definitely not a heavyweight but I’m still going to take the challenge. You look at Deontay Wilder, he was beating these guys weighing 215 pounds. Granted, he’s 6-foot-6 or something, but anything is possible. I like the challenge. That’s the criticism. ‘Fight someone in their prime who is a beast!’ I think people just want to see me lose. That’s really the message behind it all. Anthony Joshua is an insane fight, but I want that challenge.” He also indicated that discussions are already in progress, adding, “We’ve been DMing back and forth, he wants to make it happen, he called me up, and it’s looking very likely for next year [2026].”
