Jake Paul is targeting a return to the ring in 2026 and a move back down to cruiserweight following his defeat to Anthony Joshua, according to Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.
Bidarian spoke after MVP announced its first UK show, headlined by Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney vs Mayelli Flores, and said Paul remains central to the company’s growth despite the loss to former heavyweight champion Joshua.
Paul was beaten by Joshua after drafting the heavyweight in on short notice, having initially been preparing for Gervonta Davis at a lower weight. The bout marked the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s first defeat at heavyweight level.
Paul survived six rounds against the former world champion in Miami before Joshua’s power proved decisive. Paul was dropped twice in the fifth round and again twice in the sixth, prompting the referee to wave off the contest.
Paul later revealed on social media that he would be forced to eat through a straw for a week and had several teeth removed as a result of the fight. It subsequently emerged that he had suffered a broken jaw in two places and required surgery, an injury expected to rule him out for several months.
Providing an update on Paul’s condition and mindset, Bidarian said: ‘He’s doing great. He wants to be back in 2026 but more importantly, like we’re here today because of Jake Paul.
Jake Paul is targeting a return to the ring in 2026 and a move back down to cruiserweight following his defeat to Anthony Joshua, according to Nakisa Bidarian
Paul was beaten by Joshua after drafting the heavyweight in Miami on December 19 (above)
Bidarian has revealed Paul will look to move back to cruiserweight following the defeat
‘When we started MVP our first show, we made a strategic decision to have our co-main be a women’s fight – Amanda Serrano – and in US boxing most promoters were like, ‘Who are these lunatics?’
He added: ‘Guess what? Amanda Serrano did a bigger number than almost every man has over the past four years in her final Netflix fight against Katie Taylor. None of this happens without Jake Paul, and so whether he’s in the ring or outside the ring, his impact is felt.’
Bidarian confirmed Paul does not intend to remain at heavyweight and is still focused on winning a title at cruiserweight.
‘He’s looking to become a champion at cruiserweight. He’s not looking to stay at heavyweight,’ he said. ‘Remember, he wasn’t cutting weight to get to 195 to fight, and on five weeks’ notice he flipped it to fight one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. I commend him for his courage.’
‘I thought he had an outstanding performance overall. When you think about it, he lasted longer than 18 of Anthony Joshua’s previous opponents. You can’t take anything away from him.
‘Jake was right – he felt that he could beat Anthony Joshua, but more importantly that he could go eight rounds. With a real training camp, I’m sure he would have lasted eight rounds. He read Anthony Joshua the right way.’
Paul’s dropped out of the WBA cruiserweight rankings following the defeat, but Bidarian dismissed the significance of any potential drop.
‘Everyone wants him not to be in the rankings. I don’t really care,’ he said. ‘He is the biggest draw in boxing. Anthony Joshua was a much bigger boxer today after his fight with Jake Paul, and that doesn’t happen without Jake Paul.’
Paul could be set to rematch Tommy Fury in the UK or take on Canelo Alvarez
‘Jake Paul brought boxing to Netflix. He has been such a boost to the sport, and whether they want to rank him or not, it doesn’t matter – people are going to tune in and watch. He’s the most followed active boxer in the world and the most followed promoter in the world. He loves this sport, and that’s all that really matters.’
Looking ahead, Bidarian said Paul has one super-fight in mind, but admitted a different bout may make more practical sense, particularly in the UK.
‘In his mind, it’s Canelo Alvarez,’ Bidarian said. ‘In my mind, I would love to see him and Tommy Fury run it back. I think that’s the perfect fight. But more importantly, I would love for him to come to the UK and do a fight.’
‘He started here in 2018 in an amateur fight against a fellow YouTuber. For him to come back here, I think would be pretty monumental. With the partners we have here, it would be the perfect fit.’
MVP’s UK debut card, featuring world title fights for Dubois and Scotney, marks the latest step in the company’s expansion, a move Bidarian again credited to Paul’s commercial pull and profile within the sport.
