The Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rematch could produce a different outcome if Paul receives the right preparation, according to Most Valuable Promotions co-founder and chief executive Nakisa Bidarian, who believes the YouTuber-turned-boxer has a realistic chance of defeating the former two-time heavyweight world champion.
Bidarian believes Paul’s previous defeat to Joshua was heavily influenced by the circumstances surrounding their first encounter, particularly the short preparation period and the significant difference in their natural sizes.
Paul suffered a sixth-round stoppage defeat against Joshua last December after accepting the fight on just three weeks’ notice. The contest ended with Paul sustaining a broken jaw in two places, requiring surgery and the insertion of two titanium plates.
Despite the damaging defeat, Bidarian insists the result should not automatically rule out the possibility of Paul performing better in a future encounter.
His argument centres on the preparation Paul had before facing Joshua, a fighter with considerably more heavyweight experience and a natural physical advantage.
Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rematch: Why Bidarian believes Paul could win
Bidarian has argued that Paul’s performance against Joshua should be assessed in the context of the circumstances that preceded the fight rather than simply through the final result.
According to the MVP executive, Paul had been preparing for a completely different opponent before suddenly agreeing to face Joshua, leaving him with little time to adapt to the demands of a heavyweight contest.
“I was pretty vocal that I didn’t want him to do the fight on three weeks’ notice,” Bidarian said.
The short notice was particularly significant because Paul had been cutting weight ahead of a proposed fight against American boxer Gervonta Davis.
Joshua, by contrast, was naturally much heavier than Paul, creating a substantial physical challenge for the American boxer.
“He was cutting weight to fight Gervonta Davis and then suddenly fighting a guy who was 40lbs naturally heavier than him,” Bidarian explained.
The circumstances, Bidarian believes, made the contest considerably more difficult for Paul than a fight undertaken after a properly structured training camp.
Although Joshua ultimately secured victory, the MVP executive believes Paul demonstrated enough ability during the encounter to justify another opportunity under more favourable conditions.
“I don’t think it was a massive overshoot, Jake landed quite a few times on AJ and you saw in July AJ is vulnerable but it was too fast, not enough prep time,” he said.
Bidarian’s assessment suggests that Paul’s ability to land punches against Joshua remains an important consideration when evaluating the possibility of a rematch.
However, landing punches is not the same as being able to defeat an elite heavyweight, and any future contest would still present considerable risks for Paul.
Bidarian says proper training could change the outcome
The strongest indication of Bidarian’s confidence in Paul’s potential came when he directly addressed the possibility of another fight against Joshua.
Rather than dismissing the idea following the American’s stoppage defeat, Bidarian suggested that a longer preparation period could significantly improve Paul’s chances.
“If Jake had to do that with the right training camp he’d have a really good shot at beating AJ,” he said.
The statement represents a strong endorsement of Paul’s potential, although it remains Bidarian’s assessment rather than evidence that Paul would necessarily win a second contest.
A proper training camp could give Paul more time to prepare tactically, improve his conditioning for a heavyweight opponent and develop a strategy suited to Joshua’s punching power and experience.
It could also allow him to enter the ring without the disruption associated with changing opponents at short notice.
Nevertheless, Joshua’s experience at the highest level of professional boxing would remain a major factor in any rematch.
The British heavyweight has competed for world titles and faced established opponents throughout his professional career, giving him experience that Paul has not yet accumulated.
For Paul, the challenge would be demonstrating that the lessons learned from their first encounter could translate into a substantially improved performance.
Jake Paul’s response to the defeat highlights his fighting spirit
Although Paul lost by stoppage, Bidarian has continued to praise his determination and willingness to face an opponent widely regarded as a significant physical and technical challenge.
The jaw injury was one of the most serious consequences of the contest, but Paul continued speaking about the fight immediately after the encounter.
Bidarian cited Paul’s reaction as evidence of his toughness and the mentality he brings to professional boxing.
“Tell me who else breaks their jaw in two places, stands in the ring and does and interview for 10 minutes talking about the fight. That’s who the warrior Jake Paul is,” Bidarian said.
The executive also recalled Paul’s own description of the experience, highlighting the American’s determination to portray himself as a fighter capable of enduring punishment.
“I’m a bigger dog than I’ve ever been because none of those punches actually hurt, sure he broke my jaw and I fell down but if you saw my face I said woah, that was a zinger, that felt good,” Paul said.
Paul’s comments reflect the attitude he has sought to project throughout his boxing career, even after suffering a defeat against an opponent with considerably more experience.
However, toughness alone cannot guarantee success against an accomplished heavyweight. A rematch would require Paul to combine his determination with improved preparation, defensive discipline and an effective strategy.
The injury also underlines the physical risks involved in facing an opponent of Joshua’s size and punching power.
Anthony Joshua’s performance against Kristian Prenga enters the debate
Bidarian also referred to Joshua’s subsequent fight against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga when discussing the British boxer’s vulnerabilities.
Joshua later recovered from two first-round knockdowns to defeat Prenga, demonstrating his ability to respond under pressure and eventually secure victory.
Bidarian nevertheless argued that Paul’s performance against Joshua compared favourably with Prenga’s showing in certain respects.
“He did better than the guy Anthony Joshua fought in July [Prenga] and was not KO’d,” Bidarian said.
The comparison forms part of Bidarian’s broader argument that Paul should not be judged solely by the outcome of his fight against Joshua.
However, the circumstances and dynamics of separate fights differ, making direct comparisons an imperfect measure of how Paul might perform in another meeting with the British heavyweight.
Joshua’s recovery against Prenga also demonstrated why he remains a dangerous opponent. Even when placed under pressure, the former world champion possesses the experience and ability to recover and turn a fight around.
For Paul, any rematch would therefore require more than simply lasting longer. He would need to demonstrate that he could consistently compete with Joshua and cope with the physical demands of the contest.
Jake Paul prepares for a return to boxing in Dubai
While speculation continues about a possible rematch with Joshua, Paul is preparing to return to the ring on December 24 in Dubai.
The planned contest will be his first scheduled fight since the defeat against Joshua, although his next opponent has yet to be officially announced.
Bidarian said discussions had narrowed the search to a small group of potential opponents, with the promotion working towards completing an agreement.
“We are down to three or four names, just trying to see ultimately who we get across the finish line,” he said.
Former mixed martial artist Darren Till is among the fighters being considered for the contest.
Bidarian confirmed that Till had featured in the discussions but indicated that other names remained under consideration.
“Darren [Till] is definitely somebody we’ve had on the list. There are two or three names that are still under consideration,” he said.
The uncertainty means Paul’s immediate priority is expected to be his December return rather than a confirmed second meeting with Joshua.
The Dubai fight could provide an opportunity for Paul to rebuild momentum, demonstrate his recovery from the jaw injury and continue developing his professional boxing career.
However, the identity of his opponent will be important in determining how the contest fits into his longer-term ambitions.
Bidarian has promised a competitive matchup, saying the promotion intends to maintain the approach that has characterised Paul’s previous fights.
“It’s going to be exciting, and, as every Jake Paul fight is, an even match-up. Every step Jake has taken based on experience or level has been evenly matched and he’s come through, other than the fight against Anthony Joshua, he has come through with flying colours,” Bidarian said.
He also recalled that Paul had pushed for the original Joshua fight despite concerns about the limited preparation period.
“Thirteen months ago, he pressed me on fighting Anthony Joshua within a three-week window, he pressed me he could beat him,” Bidarian said.
The executive expects the next opponent to be confirmed soon.
“I’m hoping whether it’s next week or week after we’ll announce who that opponent is,” he added.
Could Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul happen again?
The prospect of an Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rematch remains an intriguing possibility, particularly because Bidarian believes the first fight took place under conditions that disadvantaged the American.
Paul entered the contest after preparing for a different opponent and had only three weeks to adjust to facing a naturally much heavier former world champion.
Joshua’s sixth-round stoppage victory established the outcome of their first meeting, but Bidarian believes a longer training camp could give Paul a better opportunity to compete.
The MVP chief executive’s comments do not establish that a rematch has been agreed or that Joshua is committed to fighting Paul again. They instead reflect his belief that Paul could perform differently with more time to prepare.
Paul’s return in Dubai on December 24 is the next significant step in his career, with Darren Till among the possible opponents being considered.
Meanwhile, Joshua is preparing for a proposed December 11 meeting with Tyson Fury at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Joshua has predicted that he will knock Fury out in the first round.
The heavyweight’s immediate schedule therefore remains focused on another major contest, while Paul must first establish his next opponent and return successfully following his injury.
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For now, the Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul rematch remains a possibility discussed by Paul’s promoter rather than a confirmed fixture.
Bidarian’s central argument, however, is clear: he believes the American deserves to be judged on what he could achieve with proper preparation, rather than solely on what happened when he accepted a fight against Joshua at short notice.
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