Jake Paul, the social media star turned boxer, claims he's been talking with Anthony Joshua about a potential fight in 2026. Paul's been on a roll lately, picking up wins against Mike Tyson in November 2024 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June 2025.
Now, Paul's looking for his next big challenge. He's got a possible title fight in the works with Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, but he's also got his sights set on bigger fish.
Paul says he's had a chat with Joshua about a future matchup. According to Paul, Joshua told him:
"He's going to do two more fights, and then we do it in 2026. But he's willing"
Paul's been talking up a fight with Joshua for a while now. Back in March 2025, he said on a podcast that Joshua "has no jaw, no skills and is stiff," claiming he could beat the former heavyweight champ. A month later, Paul said Joshua had responded, saying "I saw you challenged me. Let's make it happen."
At 28, Paul's currently ranked 14th in the WBA cruiserweight division, though his inclusion in the rankings has caused some controversy. Joshua, on the other hand, is recovering from elbow surgery after losing to Daniel Dubois. He's expected to return to the ring in late 2025, but his opponent hasn't been confirmed yet.
Joshua's camp hasn't officially confirmed any of Paul's claims. In fact, Joshua's promoter told Ariel Helwani:
"I think there's a possibility of seeing Anthony Joshua this year... but it won't be against Jake Paul. If I was Anthony Joshua and I was being offered to fight someone who a few years ago was a Disney star... he's not anymore"
The promoter's words suggest Paul might be using Joshua's name to get some media attention.
For now, a fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua remains just talk. It's unlikely to happen anytime soon, but in boxing, you never know what might happen down the road.
