In a recent interview, Nakisa Bidarian—partner at Most Valuable Promotions—argued that Jake Paul presented a sterner test for Anthony Joshua than the Albanian challenger Kristian Prenga did. The comments came after Joshua’s latest bout, which marked his return to the ring following a harrowing car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends.
When Joshua stepped into the squared circle for the first time since that tragedy, he faced Prenga, a relatively unknown fighter who had managed to knock the British heavyweight down twice in the opening round. Despite those early setbacks, Joshua managed to rise, rally, and ultimately deliver a decisive knockout in the second round, preserving his trajectory toward a year‑end clash with Tyson Fury. Bidarian, however, used the fight as a springboard to highlight how well Paul performed in his own six‑round showdown with Joshua last December. In that encounter, Paul lasted the full distance before Joshua landed a crushing blow that fractured Paul’s jaw.
"Jake Paul won more than the guy on Saturday night won," Bidarian told Sky Sports News. "He was in there for six rounds.
That dude was out in two rounds, taking the same shots Jake was taking." She went on to explain that while she was pleased with Paul’s showing, she was disappointed by the outcome and, of course, concerned about the broken jaw. "I'm very happy with his performance, not happy with the outcome, and didn't like that he broke his jaw, but the hardest shots on Jake Paul didn't do what they did to a heavyweight on Saturday," she added. The interview also shed light on Joshua’s emotional state. After surviving a fatal crash that took the lives of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, Joshua dedicated his victory over Prenga to them.
Bidarian expressed deep admiration for the champion’s resilience, noting the personal messages she sent him throughout the week. "I'm proud of him, in awe of him, thinking of him," she said. "We developed a relationship with Sina, which was hard for all of us, but no harder for anyone than their families and AJ, who is part of their family.
For him to make that walk seven months later, to go into the ring with that emotion, I'm sure that weighed heavily on him. Massive respect, massive admiration." While Paul has not fought since his jaw was broken in two places by Joshua, Bidarian is unequivocal that his boxing career is far from finished. She outlined a robust shortlist of potential opponents that could reignite Paul’s trajectory.
Among the names she mentioned were former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, British contender Chris Eubank Jr., and WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia. "100 per cent he's boxing again," she affirmed. "Jake wants to fight Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, but Tommy Fury is a fight that makes sense.
Edgar Berlanga, that's a fascinating fight. I also like Chris Eubank Jr, that's a fascinating fight." Bidarian also cautioned that matchmaking must remain realistic. "The fighters on the other side also need to be realistic.
Sometimes their eyes are bigger than what the box office affords us to pay," she warned, underscoring the financial considerations that often shape high‑profile bouts. Beyond the Joshua‑Prenga narrative, the interview touched on upcoming events.
The MVP promotion will host MVPW‑06 in Birmingham on August 29, headlined by a clash between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, with Caroline Dubois also on the card. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can also stream the action without a contract via the network’s online platform. In summary, Bidarian’s remarks paint a picture of a heavyweight division in flux.
Anthony Joshua, still reeling from personal loss, proved his durability by overcoming early knockdowns and securing a swift knockout. Meanwhile, Jake Paul, despite a broken jaw, remains a marketable draw with a growing list of potential high‑profile opponents. The juxtaposition of these two storylines—Joshua’s emotional comeback and Paul’s resilient return—offers fans a compelling glimpse into the future of heavyweight boxing, where legacy, marketability, and personal adversity intertwine.