JAKE PAUL has vowed to become heavyweight world champion while snatching a fight with Tyson Fury away from Anthony Joshua.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer steps up in weight and competition – who has twice won unified titles as well as Olympic gold.
Jake Paul facing off with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury is expected to fight AJ in 2026Credit: Reuters
challenged for the IBF crown as recently as September 2024 – when he was knocked out in round five by Daniel Dubois.
Paul meanwhile has largely campaigned in the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb – where he has boldly boasted he would reign as champ one day.
But an unthinkable victory over AJ – – would leave the American underdog chasing the sport’s ultimate prize.
Paul said: “When I win, my Instagram caption the day after was going to be “heavyweight champion of the world”.
“If this fight was a couple of months ago, I’d be the heavyweight champion of the world before Dubois.
“Whatever, but I’m just getting warmed up, so we’ll see, I’ll become the heavyweight champ, cruiserweight champ, whatever.”
Joshua, 36, returns for the first time since that devastating loss to Dubois, 28, when he was dropped four times.
And plans are already in place for a double header in 2026 – returning to Riyadh in February before a
But Paul, 28, has boasted that he will be the man facing Fury next year despite not yet avenging his one career loss to the Gypsy King’s brother Tommy.
Probed on a fight with the two-time heavyweight champ, Paul said: “He’d have to get in line.
“Canelo, Terence Crawford, all of these guys can just take a ticket. We’ll see who I wanna fight.”
Paul landed himself a No14 cruiserweight ranking in the WBA after beating ex-middleweight champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, in June.
His only heavyweight bout came last November when Mike Tyson made a controversial comeback aged 58 – losing a laboured decision over eight rounds.
Paul’s fight with AJ is to be professionally-sanctioned over eight scheduled rounds
The only restriction for Joshua – causing huge concerns for Paul’s health in the ring against the 6ft 6in superstar.
But Paul said: “I feel super calm and I think the bigger the moment and the bigger the occasion, I just rise to it and I’m just prepared for these types of moments. So currently, not a ton of nerves, to be honest.
“On paper, the cards are stacked against me, but really, in terms of boxing, I’m a better boxer than AJ, which is like hilarious to say, but he’s got two left feet, he’s stiff.
“If I was his coach, I’d put him in a dance class first before trying to box.”
Jake Paul ahead of his fight with AJCredit: Reuters 
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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