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Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has revealed that a blockbuster bout between former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and YouTube-star-turned-fighter Jake Paul is in the works, with both fighters having agreed to the proposal.
Anthony Joshua, once the unified heavyweight champion, has not stepped into the ring since his stunning defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. The Briton has been keeping a low profile since, but this shock announcement is set to catapult him back into the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Jake Paul continues to build his unlikely boxing career, racking up wins against some respected names, his most recent being a points victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last month. Paul, 27, remains one of the most polarising figures in combat sports, but there is no denying his ability to draw attention and fill arenas.
Speaking at a media event, Alalshikh confirmed that talks had progressed significantly and that Jake Paul had already accepted the proposal to face Joshua in the Saudi desert.
“I’m not against what Jake Paul’s doing in boxing, it’s good for the sport to have a young generation coming through,” Alalshikh said. “But I’m against some of the kinds of fights he’s been taking. Now, I’m thinking about him against Joshua.
“Joshua, if he destroys Jake Paul, it will be good for me because the headache of Jake Paul goes from my mind. But if Jake Paul wins, I will know that Joshua is finished and that Jake Paul deserves to be ring king and deserves to have a future in boxing.”
Alalshikh’s comments have only added fuel to the fire, with fans split between seeing it as a mismatch and others intrigued by the spectacle. Joshua, 35, still holds a reputation as one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world, while Paul, though untested at this level, has proven he has grit and can go the distance against more experienced fighters.
Promoters have yet to confirm a date, but insiders expect the fight could take place in Riyadh in late 2025. The event will no doubt be another money-spinner for the Saudi boxing calendar, which has already hosted Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, and Deontay Wilder in recent years.
One thing is for certain: this is a fight no one saw coming, and no one will want to miss.
