Anthony Joshua’s potential fight against Jake Paul is viewed as an “absurd” one to make by some fans. The former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) could face the YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) in early 2026.
Mega-Draw: Paul vs Joshua
It’s a fight that could end up being the most-watched clash in the history of the sport due to the combination of Jake’s large following on social media and the match likely to be shown on Netflix.
It’s a bigger one on paper than the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout because of Paul’s massive following:
Jake Paul’s popularity:
- YouTube: 20.9 million subscribers
- TikTok: 18.5 million followers
- Instagram: 28.7 million followers
- X: 4.7 followers
He is far and away more popular than either of those fighters, including Joshua.
“It seems nonsical. It’s an absurd fight to make on health grounds for Jake Paul on the level of the fighters, on the inexperience against a very active heavyweight. Although Anthony hasn’t been that active,” said Gareth A. Davies to the Stomping Ground about a fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul.
Joshua’s Recent Opponents
– Daniel Dubois
– Francis Ngannou
– Otto Wallin
– Robert Helenius
– Jermaine Franklin
Paul’s Power, AJ’s Chin
It’s a fight that Jake Paul can easily win if he lands one of his big power shots. This isn’t the 2013 factory-level AJ that rolled off the production line that we’ll be seeing against Paul. Joshua has a lot of mileage on him from his 12-year career.
“It’s a ludicrous fight, and one of the reasons why it would be watched so much is because people would be rubbernecking. It’s a car crash fight,” said Gareth, continuing with his chirping on top of his soapbox. “On the outside looking in, you just think, ‘There’s no way on earth that Jake Paul is going to survive a battering from Anthony Joshua. You can’t actually believe it. It is happening.”
The Joshua vs. Paul fight makes complete sense when one looks at the time of matches that are being made now in the sport. Anthony and Tyson Fury both fought a complete novice, Francis Ngannou, and the matches were sanctioned despite the lack of experience of the former UFC champion.
Joshua-Paul: Commercial Behemoth
“I don’t condone that fight. I don’t think it should be licensed. I think it’s dangerous for Jake Paul,” said Davies about Joshua-Paul.”I think he’ll get starched, ironed out by Anthony Joshua if they fight. I don’t think we’ll see that fight next year. For Anthony Joshua, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a commercial behemoth, and it’s a win-win for him.”
At this point, you can’t rule out a victory for Jake. AJ’s punch resistance is 100% gone, he’ll be 36 by the time they fight in 2026, and is likely coming off a long layoff of over a year. Joshua has been over the hill since 2021. His situation will worsen by the time he fights Paul early next year.
Jake Paul’s Boxing Impact
The problem is, Joshua’s chin is gone, and he cannot take a punch. It doesn’t matter that Jake didn’t start his career out as a boxer. His power is undeniable, and if he lands one of his bombs, it’ll be over with for Joshua. This fight could end in the first round if Jake connects. Unlike the clumsy, uncoordinated Daniel Dubois, Paul is an excellent finisher.
“Look what he did to Francis Ngannou, just as an example. Ngannou is a seasoned fighter with a very heavy punch on him, who did extraordinarily well against Tyson Fury, who didn’t take him seriously enough when they fought,” said Gareth.
If Joshua were willing to fight an 0-1 novice, Ngannou, what’s the big deal about him fighting Jake Paul? He’s got more experience in the sport than Francis and has shown more talent. Ngannou only had a mere 21 fights under his belt in MMA before turning to boxing to get some coin. Jake is a far better fighter in boxing than he is.
Last Updated on 08/04/2025
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