Ever since his fight with Mike Tyson ended in a unanimous decision win, The Problem Child has been riding a wave of fame and fortune. Following the monumental Mike Tyson-Jake Paul showdown in November, the 27-year-old managed to name himself the new face of boxing while also calling out Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis, claiming, “Anyone I want… everyone is next on the list.” Now it seems there might be a new name for El Gallo to contend himself with and thankfully he is a cruiserweight.

The English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley recently put on a clinic of a performance against Dan Garber. The 27-year-old took on the Reaper Man at the BOXXER event on the undercard of Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool yesterday. The fight ended with Riley securing a devastating second-round technical knockout, solidifying his reputation as a formidable star in the cruiserweight division. Since his resounding victory many in the UK now think the next possible matchup can be against Jake Paul. So what does Jake Paul think? We don’t know. But what his business partner and promoter think? That we do know.

Is Jake Paul too big for regular boxers?

While Jake Paul has remained quiet on the topic, his business partner and promoter, Nakisa Bidarian, had plenty to say about the possibility. Speaking to Sky Sports after the wrap of the event in Liverpool, Nakisa Bidarian, the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), was asked whether Riley could be next in line for Jake Paul. Bidarian had some thoughts on the matter and commented: “Absolutely. We’d love to see Viddal headline cards in the UK and show that he has the big box office power.”

Bidarian added, “I’m sure for Viddal if he’s going to fight Jake Paul he’s going to want a big payday. He has to show us that he deserves a big payday.” Jake Paul earned a staggering $40 million from his bout with Mike Tyson, whereas Iron Mike walked away with $20 million.

Naturally, the next opponent Jake Paul faces will earn a career-high payday for a fight against the YouTuber. Therefore, the name has to have some draw in order to pull in a sizeable crowd which, according to Nakisa Bidarian, Viddal Riley doesn’t have yet. “Look at Jake’s career, it’s been really two things. It’s been fighting fighters who had name recognition or fighting appropriate or even overly appropriate journeymen for his level of experience and he’s annihilated them in one round,” he added confidently. As per the co-founder of MVP, Riley needs to up his game in order to earn a Jake Paul-sized payday.

However, Bidarian and Paul may just have to wait a while as Viddal Riley already has another opponent ready. And guess what? It ain’t Jake Paul.

Viddal Riley’s next challenge is already set

Shortly after Riley’s knockout win over Dan Garber, his promoter Ben Shalom announced Riley’s next fight. On February 1, 2025, Viddal Riley is scheduled to face Isaac Chamberlain at Wembley Arena, in London. This highly anticipated bout promises to test Riley’s mettle against a seasoned and respected opponent.

The 29-year-old cruiserweight with a record of 16 wins (8 by knockout) and 3 losses, is known for his durability and technique. Chamberlain’s experience and resilience make him a formidable adversary for the 12-0 boxer, who will need to bring his A-game to emerge victorious.

In an interview right after his TKO victory over Dan Garber, when asked about his next fight in February, Riley expressed respect for Chamberlain but also exuded confidence. “That’s one thing. He’s very brave. He’s not scared of nobody. He will fight anyone.” When asked about his strategies to ensure his victory in the fight, the 27-year-old told Eze Talks Sports, “Just keep pounding, keep hitting him, keep punishing him.”

So Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian will have to watch on eagerly to see if Viddal Riley is up for the big payday after his February 1 bout against Chamberlain. If all goes well, we may see a Viddal Riley-Jake Paul showdown in the UK in 2025.

Do you think Jake Paul should prioritize fighting established boxers like Riley over fellow influencers? Would you tune in for a potential Riley-Paul matchup in the UK?