Jake Paul has declared he will fight Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium, insisting the bout is inevitable and promising to knock out the former heavyweight champion.
Speaking at the venue during Saturday's Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois card, Paul told talkSPORT: "It's gunna happen. I want it to happen here [Wembley], all the odds stacked against me."
The 28-year-old social media star turned boxer was adamant about his chances.
"I believe that I will beat him, shock the world and create one of the biggest upsets in boxing history," he said.
PA/DAZN
|Jake Paul insisted a fight against Anthony Joshua will go ahead
Paul told DAZN: "When I knock him out I go down in the history books forever."
Tyson Fury has made a surprising prediction about the potential bout, backing Paul to defeat Joshua and pledging to wager £1m on the outcome.
"I think Jake Paul knocks the motherf***er out! Why not?" Fury said. "Seriously, I think Jake Paul chins AJ if they fight. 100 per cent. If they fight, I'm putting £1m on Jake Paul."
The Gypsy King's endorsement came as a boost to Paul, who would enter any such contest as a significant underdog against the two-time unified world heavyweight champion.
Reacting to Fury's support, Paul said: "I saw that! He's backing me. He's a smart lad."
Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has expressed openness to making the fight happen between Paul and Joshua.
When asked by talkSPORT about the possibility of the bout, Alalshikh said: "We are talking now about the future, let's see. Why not? It's a win-win deal."
The Saudi promoter's involvement could prove crucial in bringing the contest to fruition.
Reuters
|Jake Paul made his way into the ring to confront Oleksandr Usyk after his win over Daniel Dubois
Alalshikh has become one of boxing's most influential figures, orchestrating major heavyweight bouts in recent years.
His willingness to consider the matchup adds credibility to Paul's confident assertions that the fight "is gonna happen" and suggests genuine momentum behind what would be one of boxing's most unlikely heavyweight clashes.
Paul brings a 12-1 professional record with seven knockouts to any potential clash, though his victories have largely come against MMA fighters, ageing boxers and journeymen.
His sole defeat came via split decision to Tommy Fury in 2023. Most recently, he beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision in June and currently sits at No. 14 in the WBA cruiserweight rankings.
PA
|Tyson Fury backed Jake Paul to knock Anthony Joshua out
Joshua represents a massive step up in competition with his 28-4 record as a two-time unified world heavyweight champion.
His last outing ended in a fifth-round knockout loss to IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
Meanwhile, Fury confirmed his own comeback plans for 2025, stating at a Goldstar Promotions event: "Next year the big GK is going to make a f***ing comeback."