Paul and Wilder fight separately this weekend, but the idea of them clashing no longer shocks anyone

Jake Paul and Deontay Wilder may be separated by weight classes, legacies, and lifetimes of boxing tradition, but this weekend, they’re both centre stage in a sport that increasingly values spectacle over sense.

On Friday night, Wilder steps into the ring in Kansas against Tyrrell Herndon, a largely unknown heavyweight with a modest resume. The following evening, Jake Paul — the YouTuber-turned-fighter-turned-promotional force — faces former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Arizona. It’s a bizarre juxtaposition, but one that reflects the warped logic of modern boxing.

Because if, by Sunday morning, clips are circulating of Wilder flattening Herndon and Paul scoring a dramatic knockout over Chavez, don’t be surprised if the idea of Wilder v Paul starts trending. And, more tellingly, don’t be surprised if no one blinks.

“This is the kind of boxing world we live in now,” BBC analyst Steve Bunce remarked. “If someone called you tomorrow and said, ‘Wilder v Paul next,’ you wouldn’t flinch.”

There’s a perverse appeal to it — the raw, unpredictable power of Wilder against the precision PR machine of Jake Paul.

Wilder, despite four losses in his last five bouts, still possesses perhaps the most devastating right hand in boxing history. His 98% knockout rate means that no matter how erratic or faded he appears, fans and promoters alike remain intoxicated by the possibility that he might, at any moment, land the perfect punch.

That power affords him a kind of boxing immortality. “When you can end a fight in the blink of an eye, you get chances. You get forgiven,” Bunce said.

Even Herndon — whose best-known result is a second-round loss to rising US Olympian Richard Torrez Jr — could be Wilder’s latest one-round victim. And if that happens, expect talk of a comeback. Of Parker rematches, Zhang avenging, and even a long-delayed Joshua fight. Or… Jake Paul.

Because Paul is no longer an outsider. In 12 fights, he’s built a profile and a platform most seasoned pros would kill for. His gym work is genuine; his matchmaking the elite. Saturday’s bout with Chavez Jr — a faded former champion, but still a recognisable name — is another masterstroke.

“It’s elite matchmaking,” Bunce added. “It’s what Frank Warren or Mickey Duff would’ve done in the ’80s. Time it right, pick the right guy with just enough miles and name recognition — and win.”

Paul is raw, yes. His footwork was stiff, his combinations clunky. But his discipline is real, his work ethic sharp. “He trains like a world champion,” said Bunce. “His mouth is his crime, not his commitment.”

Chavez, if motivated — a big if — could derail the Paul express. If he turns up in shape, focused, he has the experience to make it messy. And if he wins, he’ll be hailed by purists desperate to see the influencer humbled.

Still, boxing has changed. Hype matters. Brands matter. And in a landscape where attention is currency, Wilder and Paul aren’t that far apart.

“They’re orbiting the same strange boxing universe,” Bunce said. “And in this universe, you can’t rule out anything.”

So don’t scoff if Wilder v Paul becomes more than fantasy. These days, fantasy sells faster than reality. And if the price is right, you might just see them in the same ring by year’s end.