YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul appears to be moving on to a much bigger opponent, as he seeks to battle two-time former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
A matchup between Paul and Joshua is expected to take place before the end of this year, according to multiple media outlets on Wednesday.
Paul was scheduled for an exhibition match Friday in Miami against Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the current World Boxing Association lightweight champion (135 pounds) and a former super featherweight and super lightweight title holder.
The bout was scrapped on November 3rd after Davis became the subject of a civil lawsuit and a related criminal investigation. Courtney Rossel, Davis’ ex-girlfriend, accused Davis of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) would have been much lighter than Paul (12-1, 7 KOs), who has fought at weights from 183 pounds to 227 pounds.
More of a cruiserweight (200-pound limit), Paul’s past two bouts were high-profile, with unanimous-decision wins over former heavyweight great Mike Tyson (then 58) last November and Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. (39) in June.
Joshua, who is 6-foot-6 to Paul’s 6-1, is a native of Great Britain who has fought at 250 pounds or more in his last five bouts.
Joshua, 36, also has far more experience than the former YouTube star-turned-fighter in Paul, who is 28 and made his pro debut in 2020.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) made his pro debut in October 2013 after winning a gold medal in the super heavyweight division at the 2012 Olympics. But Joshua hasn’t fought since Sept. 21, 2024, when he was knocked out in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois, who knocked him down four times.