On Friday night, what most expected to happen did. Jake Paul went into the ring with one of the best heavyweight fighters of his generation, and he got knocked out. However, Anthony Joshua needed six rounds and four knockdowns to put “El Gallo Dorado” away.
His detractors will surely complain about his performance, but Paul showed a ton of heart and actually landed quite a few good, clean shots on the former unified champion. He did enough to set himself up for another big fight in 2026, and the Englishman said as much after the bout.
So who will Paul face when he makes his return to the ring in 2026? We take a look at four possible options, including boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Manny Pacquiao
It will probably surprise a lot of fight fans, but boxing icon Manny Pacquiao actually has a lot of respect for Paul, and that was before he fought Joshua on Friday. The Filipino made his return to the ring at 47 earlier this year and looked good. While he has suggested he wouldn’t have much interest in a fight with the American, money talks in the fight game, and he might get an offer from MVP and Netflix that he can’t refuse.
Ryan Garcia
When more outside-the-ring allegations for Gervonta Davis scrapped a planned fight with Paul last month, Ryan Garcia was reportedly one of the names contacted to jump in as a short-notice replacement. The former lightweight champion’s career is in a weird place right now after going 1-2-1 in his last four and being popped for performance enhancers in 2024.
Facing and knocking Paul out could boost his public profile and set him up for notable bouts in 2026.
Gervonta Davis
Davis continues to damage his brand with his run-ins with the law and allegations of domestic violence. However, it could lead him back to rebooking the fight with Paul that was supposed to happen in November. They already have the contract and fight guidelines set up. Plus, MVP Promotions might be able to knock off a few million from Davis’ pay after he put them in a bad position a couple of months ago.
Canelo Alvarez
Jake Paul has been calling for a fight with Canelo Alvarez for several years. For much of that time, the Mexican legend has laughed off the idea. However, his stance has seemingly softened a bit over the last 12 months, and he has gained a little respect for Paul. After stepping into the ring with Joshua, that respect may have increased.
For Alvarez, it all comes down to whether the money is worth his effort. If the data shows Paul vs. Joshua was another financial success, he may be open to the idea of a big payday to be the next boxing star to knock the Cleveland native out.
