Bold claim: Jake Paul is chasing sky-high opponents while reshaping his boxing roadmap, and the path toward a dream fight with Terence Crawford or Alex Pereira could redefine his career. But here’s where it gets controversial: the most tantalizing matchups might hinge less on equal matchups and more on timing, promotion, and cross-sport diplomacy.
After Jake Paul’s planned showdown with Gervonta Davis was scrapped amid Davis’s legal setbacks, the outspoken influencer-turned-boxer pressed forward, aiming to lock in a fresh opponent before 2025 ends. Several options were reportedly explored, but Paul ultimately announced a bout with former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, set for Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami and broadcast on Netflix.
Paul reflected on the scheduling shuffle, saying, “I didn’t expect the Joshua fight to come together this year, but the plan from the start was to fight Gervonta Davis and then Joshua, so we moved it up.” He also disclosed how close he came to facing Terence Crawford, noting that the only barrier was aligning calendars and marketing the bout effectively. “It was very close to being Crawford instead of Joshua,” Paul admitted. “Timing and promotion were the hurdles. We might still do it in 2026 if we can line up the schedules, because that fight is massive, and beating Joshua would amplify it even more.”
Crawford has repeatedly appeared on Paul’s evolving “hit list” of prospective opponents. Paul first publicized this list in 2021, and while he has already faced six of the 12 names he highlighted, Joshua and Crawford remain on the roster of targets. Another name in contention for a December clash, though not on the list, was former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
An offer was extended to Ngannou to face Paul after the Davis fight information surfaced, but Ngannou declined, telling TMZ that he felt “disrespected” by the proposal and that stepping into a boxing ring with Paul didn’t make sense for him. Paul described his reaction as surprised, and he criticized Ngannou’s decision, suggesting a future underperformance against Joshua could expose Ngannou’s limitations.
Looking ahead, Paul also discussed UFC star Alex Pereira as the lone MMA fighter on his new target list. Pereira’s continued UFC contract and a public dispute with UFC chief Dana White complicate the possibility of a Paul–Pereira crossover. Yet there may be a sliver of opportunity: White’s foray into boxing through Zuffa Boxing in 2026 could open channels for an interpromotion showdown. Paul acknowledged that White’s involvement could facilitate a potential crossover, but he warned that UFC might not permit their athletes to compete in boxing again. He added that he would be thrilled if such a fight occurred, yet emphasized that a loss for a UFC superstar against a “Disney kid” would not be favorable for UFC business.
