Jake Paul, known for targeting prominent figures in boxing, suggests that a potential bout with one of the sport`s biggest stars is gaining traction.
Following his victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28, a fight where he navigated a tricky moment, the controversial personality has spoken about future plans.
Fresh off this win, Paul, 28, immediately focused on potential world title aspirations, notably confronting Zurdo Ramirez after their respective wins in Anaheim, California.
Never one to shy away from calling out major names, `The Problem Child` nearly secured a significant fight against Canelo Alvarez earlier this year.
A callout directed at one particular heavyweight superstar, which previously drew criticism, now appears to have caught the attention of the target himself.
Paul Indicates Anthony Joshua Fight `Very Likely` for 2026 Following Conversation
During his post-fight press conference, Paul addressed earlier comments about potentially moving up to the heavyweight division.
He has previously voiced interest in facing Anthony Joshua, a prominent figure in boxing and former two-time unified world heavyweight champion.
Paul acknowledged that moving to heavyweight would be a considerable challenge but stated these are the types of tests he seeks.
“I`m clearly not a heavyweight, but I`m ready for that challenge. Look at Deontay Wilder, he was defeating opponents weighing around 215 lbs. He`s taller, sure, but anything is achievable. I welcome the challenge. The criticism is always, `Fight someone in their prime, a real beast.` I believe people fundamentally just want to see me defeated. That`s the underlying sentiment.”
Paul specifically discussed a potential bout with Joshua, describing it as an “insane fight”.
Although ‘AJ’ recently suffered a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, he had significantly rebuilt momentum with four consecutive knockout victories following back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk.
Paul revealed he has spoken with Joshua, including a direct phone call, and feels the fight is “very likely” to happen in 2026, indicating mutual interest.
“Anthony Joshua is an insane challenge, but one I want. We`ve been exchanging DMs. He`s keen on making it happen. He even called me directly, and it`s looking very likely for next year.”
Canelo Alvarez Fight Still a Possibility, According to Paul
In February, a potential fight between Paul and Canelo Alvarez was close to being announced before Turki Alalshikh intervened and signed the Mexican star to a four-fight agreement.
Instead of facing Paul on May 3, Alvarez fought and defeated William Scull in Riyadh and is now focused on a major bout against Terence Crawford.
When asked during the press conference if a fight with Alvarez could still materialize in the future, Paul replied:
“No, he’s definitely not out of the picture. Once I acquire belts, I intend to pursue the cruiserweight championship and add that title to my record. For him, I believe becoming a four or five-weight champion would be compelling, and that’s part of the plan.”
