Jake Paul could beat Anthony Joshua if the YouTuber-turned-boxer receives adequate preparation before a potential rematch, according to Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, who believes the American showed enough during their previous encounter to suggest he could challenge the former heavyweight world champion again.
Bidarian argued that Paul’s defeat to Joshua was influenced by insufficient preparation time, a significant weight disadvantage and the difficulty of facing an opponent with considerably greater heavyweight experience.
Paul suffered a sixth-round stoppage defeat against Joshua last December, with the British fighter breaking his opponent’s jaw in two places during the contest.
Despite the damaging loss, Bidarian believes the result does not necessarily rule out Paul’s chances of competing more effectively if the pair meet again.
Bidarian questions preparation for Joshua fight
Bidarian said he had opposed Paul’s decision to accept the Joshua fight with only three weeks to prepare, arguing that the circumstances made the challenge particularly difficult.
“I was pretty vocal that I didn’t want him to do the fight on three weeks’ notice,” Bidarian said.
He maintained that Paul performed better than Joshua’s subsequent opponent, Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga, despite suffering a stoppage defeat.
“He did better than the guy Anthony Joshua fought in July [Prenga] and was not KO’d,” he added.
Bidarian also suggested that Joshua had displayed vulnerabilities during his recent performances, although Paul lacked the preparation required to take full advantage of them.
“I don’t think it was a massive overshoot, Jake landed quite a few times on AJ and you saw in July AJ is vulnerable but it was too fast, not enough prep time,” he said.
The MVP co-founder believes the circumstances surrounding the fight were particularly unfavourable because Paul had been preparing for a completely different opponent.
“He was cutting weight to fight Gervonta Davis and then suddenly fighting a guy who was 40lbs naturally heavier than him,” Bidarian explained.
He added: “If Jake had to do that with the right training camp he’d have a really good shot at beating AJ.”
His comments suggest that Paul’s team believes a longer training camp and a more suitable preparation strategy could improve the American’s competitiveness against elite heavyweight opposition.
However, Bidarian’s assessment remains a prediction rather than evidence that Paul would defeat Joshua in a rematch.
Jake Paul prepares to return to boxing
Paul has announced plans to return to the ring on December 24 in Dubai, marking his first scheduled fight since the damaging encounter with Joshua.
The opponent has not yet been confirmed, although Bidarian revealed that the shortlist had been narrowed to three or four potential candidates.
Among the names being considered is former UFC fighter Darren Till, who has also competed in professional boxing.
Bidarian said the promotion was working to identify an opponent who would provide a genuine sporting challenge while remaining commercially attractive.
“We are down to three or four names, just trying to see ultimately who we get across the finish line,” he told Sky Sports News.
He added: “Darren [Till] is definitely somebody we’ve had on the list. There are two or three names that are still under consideration.”
The announcement of Paul’s next opponent is expected to follow once negotiations are completed.
“It’s going to be exciting, and, as every Jake Paul fight is, an even match-up,” Bidarian said.
He argued that Paul had generally progressed successfully through the opponents selected for him, with Joshua representing the notable exception.
“Every step Jake has taken based on experience or level has been evenly matched and he’s come through, other than the fight against Anthony Joshua, he has come through with flying colours,” he said.
Nevertheless, the decision over Paul’s next opponent will be important following the severity of his injuries against Joshua.
Bidarian praises Paul’s toughness after jaw injury
Paul sustained a serious injury during the Joshua fight, requiring teeth to be removed and two titanium plates to be inserted into his mouth.
The damage followed the sixth-round stoppage, which marked a significant setback in his attempt to establish himself against established heavyweight opposition.
Bidarian, however, presented Paul’s response to the defeat as evidence of his determination to continue boxing.
He recalled the American’s description of himself after the fight, saying Paul had told him: “‘I’m a bigger dog than I’ve ever been because none of those punches actually hurt, sure he broke my jaw and I fell down but if you saw my face I said woah, that was a zinger, that felt good’.”
Bidarian used the account to highlight Paul’s willingness to endure punishment and remain engaged with the sport despite the consequences.
“Tell me who else breaks their jaw in two places, stands in the ring and does and interview for 10 minutes talking about the fight. That’s who the warrior Jake Paul is,” he said.
Paul’s planned return will offer an opportunity to assess how effectively he has recovered from the injury and whether he can resume his boxing career without further complications.
His next opponent, however, has not yet been officially announced.
Joshua turns attention to Tyson Fury showdown
While Paul prepares for his return, Joshua is focusing on another major heavyweight contest.
The former two-time world champion has recovered from the Paul fight and subsequently defeated Kristian Prenga after overcoming two first-round knockdowns.
Joshua is now preparing for a long-anticipated all-British showdown against Tyson Fury, scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The contest is expected to attract considerable attention because of the rivalry between the two British heavyweights and the prospect of finally seeing them face each other in the ring.
Joshua has also made a bold prediction about the fight, claiming he will knock Fury out in the first round.
His immediate focus remains on the Fury bout rather than a potential rematch with Paul.
For Paul, a return against a carefully selected opponent could help rebuild momentum after his first stoppage defeat and the serious injury he suffered against Joshua.
Three or four opponents remain under consideration
Bidarian said the promotion was trying to balance the commercial demands of Paul’s fights with the need to select opponents who would provide a credible test without possessing an overwhelming physical advantage.
He explained that the team was seeking an opponent who could generate public interest while allowing Paul to return under more favourable circumstances.
“Thirteen months ago, he pressed me on fighting Anthony Joshua within a three-week window, he pressed me he could beat him,” Bidarian said.
He acknowledged the consequences of that decision, including Paul being knocked down, stopped and suffering a broken jaw in two places.
The MVP co-founder said the priority now was to manage Paul’s comeback carefully after approximately a year away from competition.
“It’s going to be exciting, and, as every Jake Paul fight is, an even match-up,” he said.
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He added that the promotion wanted an opponent who would be “a true test but who doesn’t have a massive advantage versus Jake Paul”.
Bidarian expressed hope that the identity of Paul’s next opponent would be revealed soon.
“I’m hoping whether it’s next week or week after we’ll announce who that opponent is,” he said.
For now, a second fight against Joshua remains hypothetical. Bidarian’s confidence reflects his belief that better preparation could make Paul more competitive, but the American’s immediate challenge is to return successfully before any discussion of another heavyweight showdown becomes realistic.
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