Jake Paul is aiming to step into the ring with the kind of formidable opponent his detractors have long demanded, setting his sights on former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. This highly anticipated matchup is being targeted for late 2026.
Paul recently added another victory to his boxing record, securing a unanimous decision win over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight bout. While the performance against the older, smaller Chavez Jr. continued to draw criticism regarding Paul`s choice of opponents, Paul himself views this win as a pivotal moment, marking a transition towards a more serious phase in his boxing career.
Reflecting on his 2023 loss to Tommy Fury, Paul admitted during his post-fight press conference that he wasn`t fully focused on boxing at that time. He stated that roughly two years into his journey, he lacked the proper team, conditioning, and dedication, with his lifestyle still more akin to a YouTube celebrity than a devoted boxer.
Paul feels the victory over Chavez Jr. concludes “chapter one” of his career, indicating that he is now entering “chapter two” and is just beginning to truly develop in the sport. He addressed the lingering criticism about the Tommy Fury defeat, highlighting his recent win over a former world champion and expressing his intent to eventually avenge that loss against Fury.
His split decision loss to Fury in 2023 had previously intensified doubts about Paul`s legitimacy as a professional boxer. Since then, the former social media star has amassed six consecutive wins, though his opponents, including a bout against 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November, often did little to silence his critics. With his stated commitment to a more serious boxing path, Paul is now aiming for more credible matchups, notably former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Paul`s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, confirmed that a fight with Anthony Joshua is a primary target. While other possibilities like a Tommy Fury rematch are considered, the focus is squarely on making the Joshua fight happen by the end of 2026. Discussions with Joshua`s promoters, Matchroom, are reportedly in the works.
Anthony Joshua, aged 35, is widely regarded as a powerful former unified heavyweight champion. He recently secured a brutal knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March 2024 before experiencing a loss to Daniel Dubois later that year. Facing Joshua would represent a significant step up in competition for Paul, but “The Problem Child” insists he is prepared for such a challenge.
Paul acknowledged that he is not a heavyweight but expressed his willingness to take on the challenge, drawing parallels to instances like Deontay Wilder competing effectively against larger fighters. He sees the public demand for him to fight elite opponents like Joshua as fundamentally stemming from a desire to see him lose. Despite the immense challenge, Paul reiterated his desire for the fight and indicated that direct communication with Joshua suggests the bout is “looking very likely” for late 2026.
