New York, March 20, 2025 – The boxing world is buzzing with anticipation following Jake Paul’s bold announcement of his intention to face heavyweight legend Anthony Joshua in 2026. At 2:31 PM EDT on Friday, Paul took to X to endorse a post from BAVAFASports, which originally broke the news earlier that day at 8:55 PM UTC on March 20. BAVAFASports, managed by Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s adviser, revealed that Paul had shared a list of desired opponents for 2025 and 2026 on February 10—three days after his potential matchup with Canelo Alvarez fell apart. The list included six fighters, with Anthony Joshua prominently featured. Bidarian confirmed he personally called Paul to verify the seriousness of this matchup, and Paul was “unequivocally” committed to facing Joshua in 2026.
Facts https://t.co/hsJXnfOF9H
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 20, 2025
Paul’s succinct X post, stating “Facts,” quoting BAVAFASports’ revelation, ignited a storm of reactions online. The 28-year-old American, known for his meteoric rise in boxing through high-profile bouts against figures like Mike Tyson and Nate Diaz, appears undaunted by the stark experience gap between him and Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion with a record of 28 wins and 4 losses.
The announcement has elicited mixed responses. Fans and critics flooded Paul’s and BAVAFASports’ posts with comments, ranging from excitement about a potential “historical fight” to skepticism, with some urging Paul to prioritize other matchups, like the long-delayed bout with KSI. Others expressed concern over the matchup’s feasibility, citing Joshua’s knockout prowess and Paul’s relatively new professional boxing career, which began in 2018.
Paul’s confidence is bolstered by his recent unanimous decision victory over Tyson in November 2024. However, Joshua, who last fought in September 2024, losing to Daniel Dubois, remains a daunting challenge. As the boxing community awaits official confirmation, Paul’s team is clearly aiming to elevate his profile with this blockbuster potential fight.
