A CLASH between two contrasting boxing talents – Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul – may be more than just an exercise in clickbait.
Both have winning records, but that’s where the similarities end. Joshua, a two-time unified heavyweight champion, has faced the best of his era, with the exception of Tyson Fury. Paul, by contrast, fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in his 12th bout, one of the most widely criticised spectacles in recent boxing history.
But if it makes dollars, it makes sense – especially in boxing, where those fighting for millions often chase the biggest paydays available. Joshua, inactive since being stopped by Daniel Dubois last September, is expected to return to the ring later this year.
Names such as Fury and former American prospect Jared Anderson have been mentioned. Now, Jake Paul has thrown his hat into the ring as well.
There is, however, a vast physical disparity. Paul weighed 199½ lbs for his June bout against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Joshua, in comparison, tipped the scales at 252¼ lbs for his IBF title clash with Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
Despite ongoing doubts about his legitimacy as a contender, Paul has made a genuine impact outside the ring. Alongside promoter Nakisa Bidarian, his MVP Promotions brand has brought increased attention to women’s boxing and is now establishing itself as a rising force in the American boxing scene.
Bidarian now claims their focus also includes a potential clash with Joshua – one they are eyeing for 2026.
“I think the fight can absolutely happen,” Bidarian told Sky Sports News. “I’m looking at it as Jake versus Joshua, which is quite biblical, and it’s quite impactful in many ways.
“I think size wise, we can get comfortable with it, and I think experience wise, Jake is learning very fast and growing, and Joshua is a little long in the tooth. So it could be a very interesting matchup, and we’re actively discussing it with Matchroom.
“I think we’re looking at it happening at the start of 2026,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s public that AJ was taking a little time away, I think he had a little surgery. So once he’s ready, and once Jake is ready, we’re going to squarely focus on that.
“It’s a fight that Jake wants to do, and that’s a discussion we’ve had at length, and he feels very confident about where he is in his career and his chances of upsetting Anthony Joshua.”
