JAKE PAUL doubled down on fighting Anthony Joshua in 2026 – and says he even expects to knock out the former heavyweight champion.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer brazenly called out AJ on his podcast – prompting Joshua to phone up Paul.
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And the two are said to have struck a verbal agreement to fight next year – with Paul aiming a brutal dig at Joshua while vowing to KO him.
He told Ariel Helwani: “Yeah, we talked on the phone for like ten minutes and we’re both down. I said 2026 and he was like, ‘Alright, let’s get it.’
“We’re gonna make it happen so I think that’s going to be a mega-fight next year and something fun to test my skills at heavyweight.
“But I think his chin’s gone and especially if he fights another time or two in between the end of 2026.
“I love Anthony, he’s always supported me, I’ve always supported him but I just do believe I can beat him in a fight.”
Paul’s last fight was up at heavyweight when Mike Tyson controversially made a comeback aged 58.
But a huge 100 MILLION tuned in to watch on Netflix as Paul won an eight-round decision in Texas.
He weighed 227lb (16st 2lb) which is still TWO STONE lighter than Joshua, 35, was before his September KO loss to Daniel Dubois, 27.
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Now Paul, 28, returns on June 28 back down at the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb against ex-middleweight champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39.
It comes after Canelo Alvarez, 34, walked away from a shock deal to face Paul on May 3 in Las Vegas.
The Mexican great instead signed a four-bout deal with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, beating William Scull, 32, to regain his undisputed throne.
Now Canelo is due to take the 168lb super-middleweight title into a showdown with unbeaten American Terence Crawford, 37, in September.
Paul was also linked with an exhibition bout against Gervonta Davis, 30, despite their SIX STONE weight difference.
But Davis is set to rematch Lamont Roach, 29, in the summer after their controversial March draw.
And Paul said: “That was on the one yard as well, but he has to rematch Lamont Roach.
“He wants to get that back. Then we will be back in discussions with Mr. Gervonta.
“But this is the nature of boxing, you have massive fights on the one-yard line and then they fall through.”
Paul revealed an exhibition – where he would weigh 195lb – over ten round is still on the table for Davis later in the year.
He added: “We’re working on it behind the scenes to make that happen.”
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