Jake Paul has confirmed his proposed superfight with Anthony Joshua WILL happen after negotiations this weekend. Paul, 28, was ringside to watch Oleksandr Usyk brutally knock Daniel Dubois out in the fifth round at Wembley last night. The American stepped into the ring afterwards to square off with Ukraine’s Usyk.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer wants a future MMA fight with the unbeaten, undisputed heavyweight champion. But in the more immediate future, Paul wants to take on Joshua who has not fought since losing to Dubois in September 2024. AJ underwent elbow surgery in May of this year but wants to return to the squared circle before 2025 is over. Paul, whose career record is 12 wins and one loss (to Tommy Fury), defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at cruiserweight last month and called out former heavyweight champion Joshua afterwards.
And it appears the 35-year-old, who is 28-4 with 25 KOs, and his promoter Eddie Hearn are in serious talks to make a fight with the ‘The Problem Child’ happen.
Paul, informed that Tyson Fury said he would bet £1million on him knocking Joshua out, told iFL TV: “He’s a smart guy. He sees what I see which is a weakness in somebody that has been fighting a bit too long. People underestimate me and doubt me and that’s what they’ve done their whole career.
“But that’s why I want the fight – I want to prove the world wrong. It’s gonna happen, it’s not even about it being realistic. Meeting with Turki (Al-Sheikh), talking with Turki upstairs, negotiating live here today, it’s gonna happen.”
Asked if the fight will be this year or in 2026, Paul added only: “We’ll see.” And AJ’s promoter Hearn also confirmed to The Stomping Ground at Wembley that a fight is in the works. He explained: “It sounds like AJ is going to fight Jake Paul. If he’s true to his word, if he really wants the fight, he’s already saying he’s got a weak chin…
“If he’s true to his word, the fight will happen. I can’t believe it. It’s great Fury is saying Jake Paul is going to win. Maybe I’ve just lost my mind. I reached out to Nikita (Ababiy, Paul’s manager) and we’re going to have a chat next week.
“If they truly want the fight, we can make the fight that does the biggest numbers in the sport. Forget Canelo-Crawford, that doesn’t even touch the surface of – and I can’t believe I’m saying it – of AJ against Jake Paul.
“We’ll make it happen but be careful what you wish for. This ain’t a game. This ain’t a YouTube video, this isn’t numbers and algorithms. This is physically dangerous. If you want to do it, be careful, but we will do it.
“We’ve always said ‘of course we’d do it’ but I didn’t think anyone would even give it the credibility. I’m not going to argue about it, I’m just telling Jake Paul it’s very dangerous. If you’re for real, understand the consequences that come with a fight like this.
“Ask Francis Ngannou. Francis Ngannou in my opinion would destroy Jake Paul. But good luck to the man! If you’re game and you want to roll the dice, we’re ready.”
Meanwhile, Fury said of AJ vs Paul: “I just think Jake Paul would knock AJ out. I think AJ is a spent force, and Jake Paul is on the rise. I like his new heavyweight look – bit chubby, bit bulky. [He’s] getting there.”