Jake Paul is ready to step back into the ring with Anthony Joshua despite suffering a broken jaw in their previous encounter, with his promoter revealing that the American boxer considers a rematch with the former heavyweight champion his ideal comeback fight.
Paul’s willingness to face Joshua again comes months after their heavyweight contest in Miami ended in a sixth-round knockout defeat for the YouTube star-turned-boxer, leaving him with a serious jaw injury that required two operations.
According to Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, Paul has now been medically cleared to resume his boxing career and is considering his options for a return to competition.
Speaking to Sun Sport, Bidarian disclosed that Paul would welcome another opportunity to fight Joshua, although the American would also consider facing the winner of Joshua’s proposed showdown with Tyson Fury.
“Truthfully, he wants to fight Anthony Joshua again. That to him is ideal, but I think he was saying he’d fight either guy,” Bidarian said.
Paul’s desire for a rematch is particularly striking given the manner of his previous defeat. Joshua stopped the American in the sixth round of their December 19, 2025, heavyweight contest at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, delivering a decisive blow that fractured Paul’s jaw in two places.
The injury required immediate surgery, followed by a second operation during his recovery. Paul was subsequently suspended from boxing indefinitely while his condition was assessed.
Despite the severity of the injury, Bidarian said Paul remained confident about returning to the ring and did not believe the experience had diminished his appetite for fighting.
The promoter explained that they had discussed the psychological impact of sustaining such a serious injury, particularly the possibility that a fighter might become more cautious about engaging opponents after being hurt.
However, Bidarian said Paul had expressed no such reservations.
According to the promoter, Paul maintained that the injury had not affected his determination and remained eager to return to competitive boxing.
The prospect of a rematch would nevertheless represent a significant challenge for Paul, who was unable to prevent Joshua from securing a knockout victory in their first meeting.
Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight world champion, is meanwhile preparing for a potential blockbuster encounter with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.
The two fighters are scheduled to meet on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, in a contest expected to attract considerable attention from boxing fans.
The proposed showdown would bring together two of Britain’s most recognisable heavyweight boxers, with Joshua holding a reported professional record of 30 wins and four defeats, while Fury stands at 36 victories, two defeats and one draw.
For Paul, the outcome of that contest could create another route back into the heavyweight spotlight. Bidarian indicated that his fighter would be willing to face either Joshua or Fury, although the promoter identified Joshua as Paul’s preferred opponent.
No rematch between Paul and Joshua has been officially confirmed, and Paul’s immediate opponent for his return remains undecided.
For now, the American’s stated willingness to face Joshua again signals that his comeback ambitions remain firmly focused on high-profile boxing contests, despite the physical consequences of their first meeting.
