Jake Paul indicates that he plans to finally face the type of opponent his detractors have been demanding – though not until next year.
On Saturday, Paul achieved another victory in his boxing career, securing a unanimous decision against former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in their cruiserweight contest held in Anaheim, California. Despite the win, Paul`s performance was somewhat underwhelming, particularly as he appeared significantly larger than the 39-year-old Chavez. This continued the criticism Paul has faced for selecting opponents who are often undersized or past their prime. However, Paul views this recent triumph as a critical juncture, marking a shift towards a more dedicated boxing path.
“I don’t even think I was a fighter then,” Paul stated during his post-fight press conference, reflecting on his earlier loss compared to his performance against Chavez. “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 continued, “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`s split decision defeat to Tommy Fury in 2023 intensified doubts about his legitimacy as a professional boxer. Since that loss, the former YouTube personality has secured six consecutive wins, yet his opponents have largely done little to silence the skeptics. Before facing Chavez, Paul had a planned fight with the 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November (as mentioned in the original text timeline – *Note: The timeline provided in the original text appears inconsistent regarding the Tyson fight date relative to the Chavez fight. This summary reflects the original text`s stated sequence.*). Now, with a stated commitment to a more serious boxing career, Paul is aiming for a challenge he considers more appropriate in terms of age and competitive level: former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s business partner, confirmed the focus on Joshua. “That’s the main one that we’ve talked a lot about,” Bidarian said. “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.”
Anthony Joshua, 35, is a former unified heavyweight champion widely regarded as one of the most dangerous punchers of his era. His recent record includes a powerful knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March 2024, followed by a loss to Daniel Dubois in September of that year for the IBF heavyweight title. For Paul, facing Joshua would represent a significant step up in competition, but “The Problem Child” insists he is prepared for it.
“I’m definitely not a heavyweight but I’m still going to take the challenge,” Paul stated. “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. 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,” (aligning with the target of late 2026 mentioned by his partner).
