Jake Paul has issued a bold challenge to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua but revealed there is one boxer he will never challenge.
Paul defeated Mike Tyson in his last fight, and looked close to agreeing a deal with Canelo Alvarez, highlighting his confidence in his ability to defeat the best of boxing. He said of Joshua:
“He doesn’t have a chin, and he has no skill, and he is stiff,” Paul said on his podcast. “I love you, Anthony, and we are friends, but I want to fight you.”
Joshua responded by sharing a screenshot of a phone call with Paul on social media. The post, captioned “2026,” hinted at a potential future bout between the two, though it is likely they were discussing other business.
While Joshua has not publicly addressed Paul’s challenge in depth, the exchange has fueled speculation, and Paul’s last fight was at heavyweight where his previous outings have been as a cruiserweight.
Paul previously expressed interest in facing Canelo Alvarez, but negotiations fell through at the eleventh hour when Turki Alalshikh offered Canelo a multi-fight deal.
Jake Paul’s Journey: From YouTube to Heavyweight Encounters
Jake Paul, known as “The Problem Child,” has carved out a significant, albeit controversial, career in professional boxing since his debut in January 2020. With a professional record of 12 wins and 2 losses, including 7 knockouts, Paul has consistently sought to challenge established names from boxing and mixed martial arts.
His highly anticipated bout against boxing legend Mike Tyson took place on November 15, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fight, streamed globally on Netflix, saw Paul defeat the 58-year-old former undisputed heavyweight world champion via unanimous decision after eight rounds. Despite Tyson starting strong, Paul, who was 27 at the time, weathered the early storm and controlled the later rounds, ultimately earning the victory. The event garnered massive viewership, with 65 million concurrent viewers, making it one of the most-streamed sporting events ever. Following his sole professional loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023, Paul had built a six-fight winning streak, including victories over Nate Diaz, Andre August, Ryan Bourland, Mike Perry, Mike Tyson, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June 2025.
The Anthony Joshua Showdown: A Reality Check
The hinted “2026” bout between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua materialized sooner than anticipated, taking place on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Billed as “Judgment Day,” the heavyweight professional boxing match saw former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua face Paul in an eight-round contest. Joshua, with a record of 29 wins and 4 losses (26 by KO), entered the fight after a mixed run, including a knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March 2024 and a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 for the IBF World Heavyweight championship. The fight against Paul was widely criticized due to the significant size and experience disparity between the two fighters, with Joshua weighing 26.8 lbs heavier and being 5 inches taller.
Ultimately, Anthony Joshua defeated Jake Paul by knockout in the sixth round. Paul suffered a broken jaw during the bout, requiring surgery to have two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed, and was unable to eat solid food for a week. In the aftermath, Joshua called out rival Tyson Fury for a potential fight in 2026, signaling his intent to return to top-tier heavyweight competition. Paul, despite the severe injury, expressed his determination to continue his boxing journey and pursue a world title at cruiserweight.
Canelo Alvarez and the Saudi Influence
Jake Paul’s aspirations to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez were ultimately thwarted by a significant development in Alvarez’s career. Negotiations for a potential fight between Paul and Canelo fell through when Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season and the General Entertainment Authority, announced a blockbuster four-fight deal with the Mexican superstar. This deal, revealed on February 7, 2025, solidified Canelo’s future engagements, effectively taking him off the table for a bout with Paul. The agreement, reportedly worth $400 million, outlined Canelo’s plans for fights in 2025 and 2026, including a May fight in Riyadh and a September mega-fight against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
The One Boxer Jake Paul Will Never Face: David Benavidez
Despite his confidence in challenging high-profile boxers, Paul admits there is one fighter he would refuse to face: “I will beat a lot of people. I would not beat David Benavidez.”
Benavidez, known as “The Mexican Monster,” has solidified his reputation as one of boxing’s most feared and dominant fighters. He boasts an undefeated professional record of 32 wins with 0 losses, including 26 knockouts. Benavidez’s impressive run includes significant victories over elite competition. He defeated Caleb Plant by unanimous decision in March 2023 and followed that with a TKO victory over Demetrius Andrade in November 2023.
In a move up to light heavyweight, Benavidez continued his dominance, defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk by unanimous decision on June 15, 2024, to claim the interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title. He then unified the interim WBC and WBA Light Heavyweight titles by securing a unanimous decision victory over David Morrell Jr. on February 1, 2025. Benavidez successfully defended his WBC and WBA Light Heavyweight titles by stopping Anthony Yarde via TKO in the seventh round on November 22, 2025. Most recently, Benavidez moved up to cruiserweight, defeating Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez by knockout in the sixth round on May 2, 2026, to win the WBO and WBA Super World Cruiserweight championships. His power, relentless pressure, and consistent victories across multiple weight classes underscore why even Jake Paul concedes he is outmatched by “The Mexican Monster.”
Though most believe the boxers Paul calls out are too good for him, this is the one fighter even Paul himself concedes that he is outmatched by.
Jake Paul’s career continues to be a spectacle, blending entertainment with legitimate boxing challenges. While he has faced and defeated notable names, his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua served as a stark reminder of the elite level in professional boxing. His acknowledgment of David Benavidez’s superior skill and power highlights a rare moment of humility from “The Problem Child,” emphasizing the formidable presence Benavidez holds in the sport.
