Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua Agree to Fight in 2026: Details of the Deal.

Fight Between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua

According to The Sun: Jake Paul has secured a 'deal' to fight Anthony Joshua, which will take place in 2026.

It all started when Paul challenged the two-time heavyweight champion to a match, after which unexpected negotiations began.

Getty

Jake Paul's Plans

Previously, 28-year-old Jake Paul is set to meet lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, 30, in an exhibition match on November 14 in Miami.

Najis Bidarian, one of the founders of Most Valuable Promotions, which collaborates with Paul, has been negotiating with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn.

He confirmed that Joshua is still on Paul's agenda for next year, noting that an oral agreement for the 2026 fight has already been reached.

“Anthony Joshua is 100% still the target. He is looking to fight in February, I think in Ghana, that’s what they are talking about,” emphasized Bidarian.

“But depending on this fight and how everything plays out, absolutely. We have a deal in principle.”

Joshua's Condition and Future Plans

35-year-old Joshua last stepped into the ring in September 2024, when he was knocked out by 28-year-old Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.

After that, he underwent elbow surgery in the summer and is predicted to return at the beginning of next year.

Tyson Fury's Situation

Hearn confirmed that a proposal for a fight in Ghana has been made, which could serve as a preparatory match before a planned encounter with Tyson Fury in 2026.

Fury, 37, retired in January following two losses to 38-year-old Oleksandr Usyk, but has hinted at a possible return as Joshua has called him out online.

id='6379967284112' data-video-id='6379967284112' data-account='5067014667001' data-player='default' data-usage='cms:WordPress:6.5.6:2.8.6:javascript' data-embed='default' class='video-js' data-application-id='' controls style='width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;'>

Paul's Fighting Prospects

Paul moved up to heavyweight last year when Mike Tyson made a controversial return at 58 years old.

More than 100 MILLION people witnessed this fight on Netflix, where the heavyweight champion lost after eight shorter rounds of two minutes each.

Paul weighed 16 Stone 2 pounds (227 pounds), which is TWO STONES lighter than Joshua's last weigh-in at 18 Stone.

The American returned to cruiserweight in June, winning against former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 39, in California.

This happened after negotiations for a fight with 35-year-old Saul Alvarez fell through, as the Mexican star focused on a matchup with 37-year-old Terence Crawford, which he ultimately lost in September.

Davis was initially set to meet Paul earlier this year, but his fight with 30-year-old Lamont Roach in March ended in a draw.

However, after declining a rematch, negotiations with Paul's camp were resumed ahead of their exhibition encounter announcement.

Bidarian clarified: “Listen, Canelo was the first choice, we thought we had a deal in place, but it turned out differently.

“That was the next fight. No negotiations for a fight with Anthony Joshua in 2025 have taken place. This has always been a topic discussed for 2026.”

Hearn's Team Plans

Bidarian also stated that they have a “deal” for a fight with Joshua next year.

Hearn previously told Sky Sports: “We are definitely not waiting for a fight with Jake Paul.

“We are making our plans that will take place in January, February 2026.”

Hearn added: “They reached out to me and said they want to do this fight [with Joshua].

“I noted that I cannot arrange this fight until after the fight with Gervonta Davis in this exhibition.

“If you get knocked out by Gervonta Davis, don’t think you’re going to fight Anthony Joshua, that’s absurd.

“So we would like them not to do this fight if we are planning to do [the fight with Joshua].”

Gervonta Davis and Jake Paul before their exhibition fight Sara Steer / Netflix A source reveals discrepancies between the teams of the boxers, however, the prospects of the fighters remain open. The fight between Paul and Joshua could be a significant event, given their status in the sport and growing interest in their matches. Many fans are hoping for thrilling fights in the coming years.