Jake Paul Eyes Anthony Joshua Showdown After Surprise Deal Hint

The prospect of a heavyweight clash between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua has gained traction following remarks from Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh. During an interview with talkSPORT’s Gareth A. Davies, Alalshikh stated, “Why not? It is a win-win deal,” when discussing the potential fight. This comment has revived hopes for a matchup that once seemed unlikely.

Alalshikh confirmed that he recently met with Paul, who was present at Wembley for Oleksandr Usyk‘s knockout victory over Daniel Dubois. “I’ve seen him,” Alalshikh remarked. “He is a guest of Queensberry. We are talking now about the future; we will see.” The two fighters have verbally agreed to a bout in 2026, but boxing enthusiasts remain cautious, knowing that nothing is official until both men step into the ring.

Should the fight come to fruition, it would represent the most significant challenge of Paul’s professional career. Despite doubts from many regarding his chances against Joshua, a former unified heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist, Paul expressed confidence when questioned by Davies about the potential match. “It’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen,” he said. “I want it to happen here (Wembley). All the odds stacked against me. I believe that I will beat him and shock the world and create one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.”

Adding to the hype, former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has thrown his support behind Paul, suggesting he would wager £1 million on the YouTuber-turned-boxer to secure an upset victory. Paul responded to Fury’s proposed bet, saying, “I’ve seen that. He’s backing me. He’s a smart lad.”

The potential fight would likely take place at Wembley Stadium, a venue known for hosting significant boxing events. This bout would mark only the third time in Paul’s 13-fight career that he has fought outside the United States. His previous matches outside the country include a loss to Fury in Saudi Arabia and a victory over Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico.

Paul has experience fighting in large venues, having previously drawn over 72,000 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where he defeated Mike Tyson. He expressed enthusiasm for the atmosphere at Wembley, stating, “Man, I love it. The UK fans really love boxing, even more than American fans. I’ve been going around the pubs, talking to all the people and asking them about what they think about the fight. I just love the atmosphere and I love to be here. It’s always history when you’re at Wembley.”

As anticipation builds for this potential showdown, fans are eager to see if this fight will become a reality, bringing together two of boxing’s most talked-about figures.