Jake Paul Reveals Eight-Fighter Target List Following Cancellation of Gervonta Davis Bout
Whether you love him or hate him, Jake Paul has firmly established himself as one of boxing’s biggest talking points. The YouTuber-turned-fighter has shared the ring with some of combat sports’ most recognizable names — including Mike Tyson, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Granted, all of them were well past their primes, but Paul, now 28, still managed to secure decision victories over each, pocketing millions along the way. He was on the verge of facing his first active world champion, WBA lightweight king Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, in an exhibition bout scheduled for November 14 in Miami.
Despite the significant size advantage in Paul’s favour, the matchup represented a major leap in class for him. However, the fight was called off after Davis’ ex-girlfriend filed a lawsuit accusing him of multiple serious offenses, including battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping. Team Paul subsequently canceled the bout, stating that they refused to give a platform to someone facing such charges.
In his first interview since the cancellation, Paul spoke with ESPN, revealing an eight-man hit list of potential future opponents — many of whom are world-class fighters.
Terence Crawford
Paul’s first target was Terence Crawford, widely considered boxing’s current pound-for-pound No. 1 following his dominant victory over Canelo Alvarez in September. Paul called the matchup “a megafight,” adding, “I respect him as a fighter and as one of the best, alongside Usyk.”
However, the Omaha native — who competes several weight classes below Paul — is unlikely to entertain the idea, as he’s focused on cementing his legacy rather than chasing exhibition-style bouts.
Canelo Alvarez
Next on the list was Canelo Alvarez, despite his recent defeat to Crawford. A Paul–Canelo fight was nearly finalized earlier this year before Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh signed Alvarez to a major Riyadh Season deal. Still, Paul remains optimistic: “I think Turki can make it happen. He’s shown interest, and Canelo has already agreed once before. All that’s left is to seal the deal.”
Oleksandr Usyk
Paul also called out undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk — but not necessarily for a boxing match. Instead, he suggested a potential MMA showdown, saying: “He’s on my MMA hit list. I think it would be insane to face him in a cage where I can use wrestling, kicks, and jiu-jitsu.”
Usyk has said he plans to continue boxing until age 41, meaning such a crossover bout might be years away.
Tommy Fury
Paul hasn’t forgotten his only professional defeat — a split-decision loss to Tommy Fury in 2023. “That fight has nothing to do with business,” Paul said. “Nobody really cares about Tommy, but I need to avenge that loss. It has to happen.”
KSI
A long-rumoured fight with KSI also remains on the table, though Paul admits it’s unlikely. The two YouTube stars have been circling each other for years, but weight disagreements have derailed talks. “We haven’t heard from his team in a while,” Paul admitted. “It doesn’t seem realistic anymore.”
KSI hasn’t fought in two years and recently stepped down as Misfits Boxing’s CEO, casting further doubt on a potential matchup.
Anthony Joshua
Before the Davis fight fell apart, Paul was reportedly close to booking a clash with former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The fight could still happen in 2026 once Joshua recovers from elbow surgery. Paul called it his “most dangerous” potential bout: “People say fight someone my size — fine, I’ll fight someone bigger. AJ’s size makes him a tougher challenge than Crawford.”
Alex Pereira
Having already faced ex-UFC champions like Silva and Tyron Woodley, Paul now wants to fight current UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira. The Brazilian has expressed interest in crossing over to boxing, but Paul said UFC contractual restrictions are the main obstacle: “His team is down. If he can get out of his UFC deal, it’ll be a massive fight.”
Ryan Garcia
Rounding off the list is Ryan Garcia, the former WBC interim lightweight champion who’s endured a turbulent run marked by a failed drug test and a shock defeat to Rolly Romero. Team Paul reportedly tried to get Garcia to replace Davis on the canceled card, but promoter Oscar De La Hoya blocked the move due to broadcast conflicts.
The two have a rocky history — once friends, now rivals — setting the stage for a potential grudge match.
In terms of skill and accolades, Paul’s eight targets are all leagues above him. Still, given the star power and financial draw that Jake Paul commands, any of these matchups could realistically happen. In combat sports, after all, money tends to outweigh everything else.
