LONDON (BN24) — YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul has confirmed he will step into the ring with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a blockbuster clash next year at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium.
The 27-year-old American made the announcement Saturday while attending Oleksandr Usyk’s dominant fifth-round knockout win over Daniel Dubois, a bout that drew a packed celebrity-studded crowd to north-west London.
“Yeah, 100 percent it’s going to happen,” Paul told DAZN from ringside. “We’re going to do the unthinkable and create one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing. It’s not even about whether it’s realistic — it’s going to happen. So fasten your seatbelts. And when I knock him out, I’ll go down in the history books forever.”
Speaking to talkSPORT, Paul doubled down on his ambition and predicted an earth-shaking upset. “It’s gonna happen. I want it to happen here [at Wembley]. All the odds are stacked against me,” he said. “I believe I’ll beat him and shock the world. I’ll create one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.”
Paul, who praised the passionate UK boxing fans, said he had been visiting local pubs ahead of the Usyk fight to soak in the atmosphere and hear fan opinions. “I love it — the UK fans really love boxing even more than American fans,” he said. “This is always history when you’re at Wembley.”
The match had already been teased by Saudi adviser and boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, who confirmed discussions are underway. Alalshikh, known for orchestrating major boxing events, said Paul has accepted the terms and that he will speak with Joshua in the coming week to finalize the deal.
“I’m not against what Jake Paul’s doing in boxing — it’s good for the sport to have a new generation,” Alalshikh told reporters. “I’m now thinking him against Joshua. If Joshua destroys him, great. The headache of Jake Paul goes away. If Jake Paul wins, it means Joshua is finished — and Jake deserves to be king of the ring.”
He added that he hopes for a one-sided match in favor of Joshua. “I don’t want 50-50. In this situation, I want 99-1.”
The proposed bout would mark a dramatic escalation in Paul’s boxing ambitions and set the stage for one of the most unlikely heavyweight matchups in modern history.
