The saga surrounding Jake Paul’s next opponent continues to unfold, with negotiations pointing toward a potential matchup against former UFC athlete Darren Till. Sources state that after discussions for a rematch with Tommy Fury collapsed, Paul’s team has shifted its attention to the British mixed martial artist turned boxer.
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s business partner and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, confirmed that Till remains a priority target. “Darren Till is definitely one of the names that Jake put out there on his list,” Bidarian explained. “He’s certainly one of the names that we’ve been speaking to.”
The timeline for the bout remains uncertain, with Bidarian acknowledging that scheduling depends entirely on how quickly negotiations conclude. “The date, time, and location depend on how quickly I can get the opponent done, and the distribution figured out appropriately based on that opponent,” he noted. If terms can be reached soon, the clash could materialize before year’s end, potentially on Christmas Eve. Otherwise, the bout would shift to early 2027.
The matchup between Paul and Till has been years in the making. Their tension dates back to 2024, when Till openly campaigned for a showdown following his exhibition victory over Mohammad Mutie. The former UFC star even offered to step in when Paul’s scheduled bout with Mike Tyson was postponed that same year. When Paul recently named Till among his desired opponents before retirement, the callout reignited their social media exchanges.
Till competed in the UFC from 2015 through 2023, facing some of the promotion’s most recognized names. His career peaked with a welterweight title challenge against Tyron Woodley at UFC 228 in September 2018, though he fell short via second-round submission. Till departed the organization with a 6-5-1 record before transitioning to boxing and bare-knuckle competition.
Since leaving the UFC, Till has compiled victories across various combat sports formats, including a recent win over Yoel Romero at BKFC 94. His experience and willingness to engage verbally with Paul have only amplified interest in their potential meeting.
For Paul, the Till option emerges as his return vehicle following a December 2025 loss to Anthony Joshua. Despite that setback, Paul has previously defeated notable UFC veterans in boxing matches, including Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva.
The current situation arose after negotiations for a Paul-Fury rematch reached an impasse. The two boxers first met in 2023, with Fury handing Paul his inaugural professional boxing loss via split decision. The narrow margin left questions lingering and talk of a second meeting began almost immediately.
Those discussions intensified in recent months, with a $10 million offer reportedly on the table for a December 2026 date. However, Tommy’s father and manager John Fury rejected the timeframe, insisting on a February or March 2027 window instead.
John Fury addressed the disagreement directly in an Instagram video, clarifying his position. “I did tell you on that meeting I got witnesses, Roberts, one of them, Spencer-Brown, the other, that we had a job pending, what I couldn’t talk about in December,” he stated. “That job pending is nearly over the line, which I stated that to you, and now you’re going on saying I’ve shook your hand for definite on December, and I didn’t.”
Paul responded with pointed criticism aimed at the family dynamic, questioning why Tommy, approaching 30 years old, still allows his father to control career decisions. “When you are almost 30, and your dad is still calling the shots in your career… Maybe realize there is a reason your brother doesn’t have daddy as his career guide,” Paul wrote on social media.
With the Fury rematch seemingly off the table for now, all attention has turned to Till.
