Jake Paul has been linked to a showdown with Anthony Joshua but could now have his sights set on another former world heavyweight champion.
After claiming wins over Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in his last two bouts, Paul has seemingly turned his attention to attempting to face a current star rather than a legend of the past, with Joshua the one that appeared to be in the box seat after talks began between the two camps.
Another previous ruler of the heavyweight division could now be a potential option though, and the man in question is former WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
That has been revealed by Wilder’s former trainer Malik Scott, who told Thunderpick that Paul’s team made it clear to him that they would be interested in the bout.
“Jake is dead serious about the Deontay Wilder fight. I’ve been in New York for the Katie Taylor fight and I just met Jake Paul’s partner [Nakisa Bidarian], literally three minutes ago. And the first thing he said was, ‘we’re interested in the Deontay Wilder fight’. He asked me, ‘what do I think of it?’ They’re just so serious. Some of the things that he said confidently to me, really makes you know that they’re not fake confident, they really are confident [in defeating Wilder].
“I don’t know if it will ever materialise into something, but they’re on to something, this whole Jake Paul thing, and I believe the key to their success is timing. But we’re talking about Jake in the ring with Deontay Wilder, it just makes no sense at all. But unfortunately Jake Paul is a big money guy in the sport of boxing right now.”
Wilder returned to action in June with a seventh round stoppage win over Tyrrell Herndon, having lost four of his last five fights prior to that. At 39-years-old, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ likely doesn’t have long left in the sport, but would still be a big favourite in a bout against Paul.
Though Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said the Paul fight has a strong chance of happening, ‘AJ’ has been linked with a fight against Tony Yoka, with some reports suggesting he has said his fellow Olympic Gold Medalist has a 90% chance of landing the bout.
