Jake Paul reveals his fight plans after cancellation with Gervonta Davis
Following the cancellation of the fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta “Tank” Davis due to the recent legal issues of the WBA lightweight champion, the influencer-turned-boxer focused on securing a new opponent before the end of 2025. Although several contenders were considered, Paul finalized a showdown with former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, in a fight that will take place on Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami, and will be broadcast on Netflix.Paul revealed that he was very close to securing a fight with the undisputed three-division champion, Terence Crawford, instead of Joshua. However, the only complication was the alignment of their schedules.I didn’t expect the fight with Joshua to happen this year. But the plan was always to fight Gervonta Davis and then Anthony Joshua, so we moved it forward.
Jake Paul
Crawford, after Paul spoke, announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday. Crawford was one of several boxers Paul mentioned as being part of his updated “target list” of opponents he wants to face. He posted his first “target list” on social media in 2021 and, to date, has fought six of his 12 desired opponents. Both Joshua and Crawford are on the updated “target list”, but another name that was in play for a December fight, which was not on his list, was former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. An offer was made to Ngannou to face Paul shortly after the fight with Davis fell through.We were very close to it being Crawford instead of Joshua. It really came down to a matter of time and wanting to properly market a fight with Crawford. Maybe we’ll do it in 2026 and align the schedules because we were very close to making that fight happen. It’s a massive fight and when I beat Joshua it will be even bigger.
Jake Paul
Ngannou told TMZ that he rejected the offer and felt “disrespected” by the idea of getting into a boxing ring with Paul.
Paul expressed that he was “surprised” that Ngannou, who lost by split decision to Tyson Fury in October 2023 and was knocked out by Joshua in March 2024, refused to fight him.It’s not about the number. I’m not interested. It doesn’t make sense.
Francis Ngannou
Paul also discussed another name on his “target list”: UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Pereira is the only MMA fighter on Paul’s new list. However, he could be the most difficult to get a fight, considering he is still under contract with the UFC and Paul still has a public dispute with UFC CEO Dana White. Nevertheless, with White entering the boxing business with Zuffa Boxing in 2026, perhaps there is a small hope that Paul-Pereira can happen.I was definitely surprised, but fighters aren’t very smart people, especially Francis Ngannou. When he sees me outclass him against Joshua, he’ll be exposed for the idiot he is. He blew it, and I think he realizes it now.
Jake Paul
It definitely makes that fight happen. But I don’t know if the UFC will ever allow one of their MMA fighters to do a boxing match again. But I hope, and I would be euphoric if it could happen. But, ultimately, I think one of their superstars losing to a Disney kid is not good for their business.
Jake Paul
