Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are talking about a big boxing match. The former world heavyweight champion and the YouTuber-turned-boxer might face off at Wembley Stadium in early 2026.
Joshua hasn't fought since September 2024 when Daniel Dubois knocked him out. He's taken some time away and had a small surgery. Paul, on the other hand, beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June 2025.
Things changed for Joshua when Tyson Fury retired in January 2025. Joshua had to look for a new opponent. But Fury soon came back, wanting to fight Oleksandr Usyk again. That's when Joshua and Paul started talking on social media, and people wondered if they might actually fight.
Now, it looks like it could really happen. Jake Paul's manager, Nakisa Bidarian, told an interviewer:
"I think the fight can absolutely happen. Jake is learning very fast and growing, and Joshua is a little long in the tooth, so it could be an very interesting match-up and we're activitely discussing it with Matchroom."
Bidarian also said they're looking at early 2026 for the fight. They're thinking about where to hold it - maybe Wembley Stadium, the US, or somewhere in the Middle East. Paul likes the idea of 90,000 people booing him.
"We're looking at multiple options. Wembley is definitely a possibility. We're looking at the US, Saudi Arabia is also an option, the Middle East is an option as a whole, but we want to do it in the most impactful way possible."
Many fans didn't think this fight would ever happen. But it looks like it might. If it does, it'll be a huge event in boxing, whether people like it or not.
Paul usually weighs between 208 and 210 pounds, but he fought Mike Tyson at 228. Joshua's a heavyweight, so Paul will need to bulk up if the fight happens.
We'll have to wait and see if Joshua and Paul actually step into the ring together. It's an odd match-up, but stranger things have happened in boxing.
