Jake Paul has gone from fighting YouTubers and former NBA stars to facing Anthony Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion. It’s a feat even his biggest detractors have to respect.
If Paul comes out of the fight in one piece, win or lose, he’ll be bragging to the world he went toe-to-toe with Joshua and lived. That could open the door to endless opportunities in the sport.
If he doesn’t retire, who would Paul fight next?
Ranked at cruiserweight, Paul will now also have made an impact at heavyweight. The possibilities are endless, from more abnormal fights to facing legitimate boxers.
He already topped the Mike Tyson fight by actually facing Joshua. How could he top this one?
Regardless of the outcome against Joshua, here’s who Paul could potentially fight next.
MORE: How good is Jake Paul really at boxing?
Who will Jake Paul fight next?
Jake Paul vs. KSI
From an entertainment perspective, one of the biggest fights for Paul is against KSI.
KSI called out Jake and his brother Logan for a fight in 2018. Logan would fight him twice, but Jake was always there to add tension. Jake beat KSI's brother Deji, and the two have called one another out several times.
Various rules and weight requests over the years have brought the potential of a fight to a halt. KSI's relationship with now-business partner Logan may further complicate things.
KSI and Misfits Boxing have had issues recently, with Andrew Tate taking over the promotion. KSI is technically available now. However, it could all be a ruse to lead to an eventual KSI-Tate fight.
With that as a factor, it’s unknown how close we will ever be to Jake vs. KSI. However, if booked, it would bring in a massive audience.
Jake Paul vs. Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is one of the most polarizing figures in combat sports, not named Jake Paul. Everyone still wants a piece of the Irish fighter, years after he reached his prime by boxing Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
Though McGregor has gone through several legal issues and hasn't competed since 2021, there would still be interest in the fight. Paul called out McGregor after he faced Tyson, attempting to get something going against the "Notorious" one.
McGregor broke his tibia against Dustin Poirier in 2021. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler, but that never came to fruition. McGregor is currently running things at BKFC and is rumored to fight at the White House in 2026.
One has to think UFC CEO Dana White wouldn’t allow Conor to fight Paul. But as we have seen, anything is possible.
Jake Paul vs. Terence Crawford
Per Paul, a fight against Terence Crawford was close to happening before the Joshua fight. He may try to book it again if he can beat Joshua.
"It was very close to being Crawford instead of Joshua," Paul told ESPN. "It really just came down to a timing thing and wanting to market a fight with Crawford properly.
“Maybe we 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."
There may be some hiccups in the fight getting booked. Crawford recently announced his retirement following his massive win against Canelo Alvarez. Retirements never truly stick in the sport, and if the money is right, Crawford could return to fight Paul.
Jake Paul vs. Tyson Fury
If, and it’s a big if, Paul can beat Joshua, he could fight the man Joshua is scheduled to face in 2026: Tyson Fury.
Fury and Joshua have reportedly agreed to fight one another in 2026. First, they will compete in separate bouts to start the year. Something like this has been agreed upon before, but plans changed.
Fury is in the middle of his latest retirement. Jake called out the likes of Fury, Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and others if he beats Joshua. The two do have history, as Jake lost to his half-brother Tommy.
Fans will have to watch Jake vs. Joshua to determine if a Fury fight is possible.
Jake Paul vs. Oleksandr Usyk (MMA)
Some forget that Jake Paul signed a contract with the PFL. He has yet to compete in an MMA fight, but he could against a multi-division undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
The two have faced off before, after Usyk beat Daniel Dubois in a rematch. Paul showed his respect but challenged Usyk to a cage fight. Usyk seemed interested, but only after he retires from boxing.
"Good plan, Jake Paul. But I’m not here for 5th place — only first. Soon, I'll close the book on boxing, and after that, I’ll be waiting for you in the cage. Let’s see if you’ve got the balls or just a hunger for hype,” Usyk said on social media.
Usyk has plenty of challengers looking to fight him in the ring. After boxing, Jake could be next.