Ranking the 4 Best Options for Jake Paul's Next Opponent
Jake Paul was set to close out 2025 with a bizarre but compelling boxing match with Gervonta "Tank" Davis. It would have been the biggest fight of his career to date, but it will no longer be happening.
The contest, which was set to air on Netflix on November 14, recently fell through. Paul briefly scrambled to find a new opponent for the same date, but in a matter of days, the event was postponed altogether.
It's disappointing, as it would have been interesting to see how Paul's massive size advantage over Davis would have counteracted his even bigger skill disadvantage.
The good news is there are still a handful of interesting options out there for Paul's next fight—even if he doesn't make it back into the ring before the new year.
Who It Could Be: Francis Ngannou
1 of 4
One of the first people Paul targeted when Davis was ruled out was former UFC and PFL heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Paul has ice in his veins for even broaching the idea of a fight with Ngannou. He is not only a decorated MMA champion, but he has also partaken in a pair of boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua—more credible challenges than anything Paul has attempted in the ring.
Ngannou would also be much bigger than Paul, and he holds a distinct power advantage over anybody he steps in the ring with. With all that considered, the social media star seems foolish for suggesting the idea.
On the other hand, Ngannou ticks many of the boxes for a potential Paul opponent. He's a big name. He's a less experienced boxer overall. He's older. Even still, Paul would seemingly have no chance of winning, but he evidently sees something in the matchup he likes.
And because both men do business with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the logistics of this matchup seem doable.
Who It Probably Will Be: Tommy Fury or Nate Diaz
2 of 4
Unfortunately, the two most likely options for Paul's next fight are probably the least interesting: Rematches with Tommy Fury and Nate Diaz.
Fury is the man behind the lone loss of Paul's 13-fight professional boxing career—a split decision in 2023. It was a decent bout, and one that Paul seemingly could have won if he were just a bit more experienced and better prepared, so it's easy to see why he's interested in running it back.
A fight with Diaz is a bit harder to sell. Paul met the former UFC lightweight title challenger in 2023 too, in his first fight back after losing to Fury. He ended up winning with a clear decision, which was not exactly surprising considering how much bigger and younger he was than the UFC vet.
While the result of their first fight didn't have fans screaming for a do-over, Diaz remains a huge name in combat sports, and he is now back in the win column after an exciting decision victory over fellow UFC veteran Jorge Masvidal last year.
Paul clearly likes these matchups because he has a strong chance of winning both. However, what makes them both such strong possibilities is that both Fury and Diaz are free agents right now, with nothing else on the go at present.
Who We Wish It Would Be: Darren Till
3 of 4
Darren Till, once a contender in the UFC welterweight and middleweight divisions, has called for a fight with Paul multiple times over the last few years.
Unfortunately, he seems to have lost any hope it will happen, which is too bad, because he'd make a great test for Paul.
At 32, he's just four years older than Paul. He's also about the same size as "The Problem Child." Most importantly, he's a skilled striker who has proved he can hang in the boxing ring, with victories in his first three pro bouts, including a recent knockout win over former UFC champ Luke Rockhold.
This isn't to say Till is an insurmountable test for Paul, but they are near-equals in terms of age, size, experience and skill. If Paul is looking for a challenge that is both credible and winnable, he need look no further than Till.
Unfortunately—while Till is available—he may not be quite a big enough name to land himself this matchup. It seems unlikely this one will happen unless Till can build up a bit more hype in the boxing space.
What Would Break the Internet: Canelo Alvarez
4 of 4
Paul has been calling out Canelo Alvarez since he first put on a pair of boxing gloves. In the early days of his career, his callouts of the Mexican boxing legend were outrageous—in fact they were downright delusional.
The YouTuber surely had to know he had no chance of landing a fight with Canelo, let alone winning, which is probably why he was so willing to call for the matchup to begin with.
Things have changed, though.
While there is still little question Canelo would embarrass Paul in the boxing ring, the matchup no longer seems as far-fetched as it once did.
Paul has become one of the biggest stars in the boxing world, as evidenced by his match with Mike Tyson last year. He definitely has the name required to share the ring with Canelo.
At the same time, Canelo is riding a decisive decision loss to Terence Crawford, and is clearly nearing the end of his illustrious career. With a long list of championship accolades, he's proved all he needs to prove, which leaves him in a position to cash in on a big-ticket fight with Paul if he chooses.
It still seems like a long shot, but make no mistake, it will be huge if it happens.
.jpg?w=600 "Could Leafs Trade for McDavid in 2027? 🤔")
