Nakisa Bidarian says Paul's team is talking with Darren Till and wants Dec. 24, but no opponent is booked and the fight slips to early 2027 if a deal takes weeks.
From 8 reports by 6 outletsLatest Bidarian confirms Till talks; Dec. 24 ideal, else early 2027 3 updates 6 outlets
What we know
- Nakisa Bidarian said Darren Till is one of the names Paul's team has been speaking to about a fight.
- Bidarian prefers Dec. 24 for the fight; if talks take three to five more weeks, there is no fight in 2026 and it is probably early 2027.
- Derek Brunson makes his BKFC debut against Theo Doukas on Nov. 20 in Myrtle Beach and is calling for Till next.
Reported, not confirmed
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Paul ruled out a Tommy Fury rematch and a fight with Francis Ngannou.
Knockout Daily
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Paul reportedly wants the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua and said his broken jaw did not hurt; neither camp has responded.
Knockout Daily
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Till has one fight left on his BKFC deal, but the promotion would likely let him fight elsewhere.
Bloody Elbow
Jake Paul's return now has a name attached and a deadline that is getting tight. His business partner Nakisa Bidarian told The Sun's Jack Figg that Darren Till is one of the opponents the team has been speaking to, and that Christmas Eve would be an ideal date. Whether it happens this year comes down to how quickly a deal and distribution are settled.
Bidarian was candid about the clock. If it takes another three to five weeks, he said, there is no fight this year and it is probably early next year. If it comes together within a day, a 2026 date is possible. A fight is not booked, and no venue has been announced.
Paul has not boxed since last December, when Anthony Joshua stopped him in the sixth round and broke his jaw. ESPN reported Tuesday that he has ruled out a rematch with Tommy Fury and a fight with Francis Ngannou, so those two names are off the board. Separately, The Sun and The Irish Sun reported that Paul wants the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua and says the broken jaw did not hurt. Neither camp has responded publicly.
Till is 33 and fights out of England. He left the UFC after a loss to Dricus du Plessis in December 2022, and his MMA record is 18-5-1, according to Kimura. Since then he has boxed, including a knockout of Luke Rockhold, and this year he opened his BKFC run with wins over Aaron Chalmers and Yoel Romero. He said earlier this month that he is waiting for the contract. According to Bloody Elbow, he has one fight left on his BKFC deal, but the promotion would likely let him fight elsewhere.
Till has another option. He was booked to rematch Derek Brunson on a Misfits Boxing card in Qatar in April, but the event was shut down because of the conflict in the Middle East. Brunson, 42, debuts for BKFC against Theo Doukas on Nov. 20 in Myrtle Beach and is already calling for Till.
Watch for Paul to confirm an opponent in the coming weeks. A signed contract with Till would decide whether Dec. 24 is realistic.
Bidarian was candid about the clock. If it takes another three to five weeks, he said, there is no fight this year and it is probably early next year. If it comes together within a day, a 2026 date is possible. A fight is not booked, and no venue has been announced.
Paul has not boxed since last December, when Anthony Joshua stopped him in the sixth round and broke his jaw. ESPN reported Tuesday that he has ruled out a rematch with Tommy Fury and a fight with Francis Ngannou, so those two names are off the board. Separately, The Sun and The Irish Sun reported that Paul wants the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua and says the broken jaw did not hurt. Neither camp has responded publicly.
Till is 33 and fights out of England. He left the UFC after a loss to Dricus du Plessis in December 2022, and his MMA record is 18-5-1, according to Kimura. Since then he has boxed, including a knockout of Luke Rockhold, and this year he opened his BKFC run with wins over Aaron Chalmers and Yoel Romero. He said earlier this month that he is waiting for the contract. According to Bloody Elbow, he has one fight left on his BKFC deal, but the promotion would likely let him fight elsewhere.
Till has another option. He was booked to rematch Derek Brunson on a Misfits Boxing card in Qatar in April, but the event was shut down because of the conflict in the Middle East. Brunson, 42, debuts for BKFC against Theo Doukas on Nov. 20 in Myrtle Beach and is already calling for Till.
Watch for Paul to confirm an opponent in the coming weeks. A signed contract with Till would decide whether Dec. 24 is realistic.
- Summary
- Nakisa Bidarian says Paul's team is talking with Darren Till and wants Dec. 24, but no opponent is booked and the fight slips to early 2027 if a deal takes weeks.
- Key points (one per line)
- Bidarian named Darren Till among opponents in talks with Paul and called Dec. 24 an ideal date.
Three to five more weeks of talks would mean no fight in 2026, per Bidarian.
ESPN reported Paul ruled out a Tommy Fury rematch and a Francis Ngannou fight.
Nothing is signed; no venue or opponent is confirmed.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/jake-paul-just-slammed-the-door-on-tommy-fury-and-francis-ngannou
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/jake-paul-eyes-christmas-eve-comeback-and-darren-till-is-waiting-on-the-contract
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/jake-paul-wants-the-fury-vs-joshua-winner-and-swears-the-broken-jaw-didnt-hurt
MMA Fighting | https://www.mmafighting.com/boxing/518073/nakisa-bidarian-teases-darren-till-as-possible-next-opponent-for-jake-paul
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/a1bd9f5a-8382-46c7-b07e-ddc68e92d9c1/jake-paul-team-in-talks-with-darren-till-christmas-eve-nakisa-bidarian
Kimura | https://www.kimura.se/jake-paul-vs-darren-till-ryktas-julafton/
Sherdog | https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Jake-Paul-in-talks-to-fight-exUFC-star-Darren-Till-in-boxing-return-203377
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/10/27/jake-paul-in-talks-with-former-ufc-title-challenger-for-boxing-return-in-december/
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Fighters in this story
Darren Till
Jon Jones
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Anthony Joshua
Derek BrunsonMore photos
How the story developed
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Bidarian confirms Till talks; Dec. 24 ideal, else early 2027
MMA Fighting
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Paul reportedly calls for Fury-Joshua winner, says jaw did not hurtKnockout Daily
Sources
Combat Sports UK
KimuraSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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