In the eyes of Most Valuable Promotions partner Nakisa Bidarian, the bout between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua proved to be a sterner test for the British heavyweight than his subsequent clash with Kristian Prenga. The comparison comes after Joshua’s recent return to the ring, a fight that saw him endure two first‑round knockdowns at the hands of the relatively unknown Albanian contender before rallying to stop Prenga decisively in the second round. While the victory kept Joshua on track for a potential year‑end showdown with Tyson Fury, Bidarian believes the earlier encounter with Paul highlighted a deeper level of difficulty. Bidarian, speaking to Sky Sports News, pointed out that Paul managed to last six full rounds against Joshua, absorbing the same heavy blows that ultimately felled the American‑born YouTuber‑turned‑boxer in their December meeting.
"Jake Paul won more than the guy on Saturday night won," she said, emphasizing that Paul endured the full duration of the fight while Prenga was stopped after just two rounds. "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 express mixed feelings about the outcome: pride in Paul’s performance but disappointment over the severe injury he sustained. "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," Bidarian explained. The broken jaw, a result of Joshua’s knockout punch, serves as a stark reminder of the physical toll that elite heavyweight boxing can exact, even on a fighter whose primary background lies in digital entertainment. Joshua’s return to the squared circle carried additional emotional weight.
It marked his first fight since surviving a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends. The loss has lingered in his mind, and he dedicated his triumph over Prenga to the memory of his late companions, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele. Bidarian praised Joshua’s resilience and the emotional strength required to step back into the ring so soon after such a trauma. "I'm proud of him, in awe of him, thinking of him," she said, noting the messages she sent him throughout the week leading up to the bout.
"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." The respect Bidarian holds for Joshua extends beyond the fight itself. She highlighted the psychological burden Joshua carried, walking into the ring only seven months after the accident and still feeling the weight of his friends’ memory. "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," she added.
Turning back to Jake Paul, Bidarian made it clear that his career is far from over despite the jaw injury. The MVP CEO outlined an ambitious list of potential future opponents for Paul, ranging from former UFC champion Francis Ngannou to Britain’s own Chris Eubank Jr., and even WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia. "100 per cent he's boxing again," she affirmed, underscoring Paul’s determination to continue his ascent in the sport. She also mentioned that Paul has expressed interest in facing Tommy Fury, a matchup that makes commercial sense, as well as other intriguing possibilities such as Edgar Berlanga.
Bidarian cautioned, however, 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, hinting at the financial constraints that can shape fight negotiations. In addition to these narrative threads, the broader boxing calendar for 2026 continues to evolve, with fans eagerly awaiting major events.
MVP’s upcoming showcase, MVPW‑06, scheduled for August 29 in Birmingham, will feature a headline bout between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, with Caroline Dubois also on the card. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering viewers the option to stream without a contract.
Overall, the comparison between Paul and Prenga serves as a reminder that in heavyweight boxing, the level of challenge is not solely measured by the outcome but also by the durability and resilience displayed over the course of a fight. While Prenga’s defeat was swift, Paul’s ability to survive six rounds against a world‑class opponent, even at the cost of a serious injury, speaks volumes about his toughness and potential future in the sport.
Bidarian’s comments encapsulate both admiration for the athletes’ perseverance and a pragmatic view of the business side of boxing, suggesting that the sport’s next chapters will be shaped by both competitive spirit and strategic matchmaking.