MIAMI (BN24) — YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul and former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua have reportedly reached a verbal agreement to fight in 2026, pending the outcome of Paul’s upcoming exhibition bout with Gervonta Davis.
The unexpected development follows a U-turn in discussions that began earlier this year, when Paul publicly called out Joshua, sparking initial talks between the fighters’ respective camps.
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions and Paul’s lead negotiator, confirmed ongoing discussions with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn. Bidarian said there is now “an agreement in principle” for a potential bout between the two, provided all parties remain on course following Paul’s fight in November.
“Anthony Joshua is 100 percent still a target,” Bidarian told reporters. “We have an agreement in principle. Pending this fight and everything coming together, absolutely.”
Paul, 28, is scheduled to face Davis, 30, in an exhibition contest on November 14 in Miami. The matchup was arranged after previous negotiations with Canelo Alvarez fell through. Alvarez instead opted to fight Terence Crawford, a decision that led to his loss in September.
Joshua, 35, has not fought since suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. Following elbow surgery over the summer, the British heavyweight is expected to return to the ring in early 2025. Hearn confirmed that an offer is on the table for Joshua to fight in Ghana as part of a potential comeback.
That bout could serve as a tune-up for a long-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury in 2026. Fury, 37, retired in January after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk but has hinted at a possible return, while Joshua has publicly challenged him to reconsider.
While Paul has bounced between weight classes, his move to heavyweight last year gained international attention when he fought boxing legend Mike Tyson, 58, in a heavily watched Netflix event. Paul tipped the scales at 227 pounds, still significantly lighter than Joshua’s last recorded weight of 252 pounds.
Paul later dropped back to cruiserweight to face former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., defeating him in California this past June.
Hearn has expressed caution about the Paul fight, saying Joshua’s team isn’t building their schedule around the influencer.
“We’re certainly not holding out for a Jake Paul fight,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “We’re making our own plans, and that will be January or February 2026.”
Despite Hearn’s measured stance, Bidarian remains optimistic about locking in a date with Joshua next year. He emphasized that Paul’s bout with Davis must be completed before a formal agreement can be finalized with Joshua.
“If you get chinned by Gervonta Davis, don’t think you’re fighting Anthony Joshua. It’s ridiculous,” Hearn said.
Joshua’s next steps, including a possible early-year return and a warm-up fight in Ghana, could clear the path for what would be one of boxing’s most unorthodox but high-profile matchups in 2026.
