Jake Paul could stand a better chance of defeating former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua if given sufficient preparation time, according to Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.
Bidarian said Paul’s knockout defeat to Joshua last December was largely down to inadequate preparation, arguing that the YouTuber-turned-boxer could have performed better with a full training camp.
Joshua stopped Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight contest, breaking his opponent’s jaw in two places. Paul subsequently underwent surgery, with two titanium plates inserted to repair the injuries.
Bidarian said he had opposed the fight taking place at such short notice, noting that Paul had been preparing to face Gervonta Davis before agreeing to fight Joshua, who was naturally about 40lbs heavier.
“I was pretty vocal that I didn’t want him to do the fight on three weeks’ notice,” he said.
He added, “If Jake had to do that with the right training camp, he’d have a really good shot at beating AJ.”
Bidarian also argued that Paul had landed several punches on Joshua and suggested that the former heavyweight champion had shown vulnerabilities in his subsequent fight against Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga.
Paul is scheduled to return to the ring on December 24 in Dubai, nearly a year after his defeat to Joshua. His opponent has yet to be announced.
Bidarian said negotiations had narrowed the possible opponents to three or four names, with former UFC title challenger Darren Till among those under consideration.
“Darren is definitely somebody we’ve had on the list. There are two or three names that are still under consideration,” he said.
He added that the team was seeking an opponent who would provide a genuine challenge without having a significant advantage over Paul.
Till, who currently holds the Misfits Boxing bridgerweight title, has publicly challenged Paul and urged his promoters to send him a contract.
Bidarian said the opponent could be announced within the next two weeks, depending on the outcome of negotiations.
Paul, who has previously fought former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and other established fighters, said his defeat to Joshua had not weakened his confidence.
Joshua, meanwhile, is preparing for a proposed all-British showdown with Tyson Fury at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
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