Jake Paul suffered fractures in two areas of his jaw after being stopped by former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in a much talked about bout in Miami, bringing a brutal end to one of the most controversial fights of the year.
The 28 year old YouTuber turned boxer showed resilience by lasting six rounds against Joshua, but the contest was halted after he failed to recover from a series of knockdowns. Paul was floored twice across the fifth and sixth rounds as Joshua’s power and experience began to tell.
Speaking shortly after the fight, Paul admitted he believed his jaw was broken. He later confirmed the extent of the injury by posting an X ray image on social media that showed fractures on both sides of his jaw. The injury ruled him out of attending the post fight press conference.
Despite the setback, Paul struck a light tone while recovering, joking that he could still fight four weight world champion Saul Canelo Alvarez within days. His promoter, Nakisa Bidarian of Most Valuable Promotions, said jaw fractures are not uncommon in combat sports and typically require four to six weeks of recovery.
Paul entered the fight as a clear underdog against Joshua, a two time heavyweight champion with vastly superior experience at elite level. The American attempted to rely on movement and speed to neutralise Joshua’s power, but the size and strength difference proved decisive as the fight wore on.
The matchup drew criticism in some quarters because of the weight gap and Paul’s limited time at heavyweight. Known largely as a cruiserweight, Paul later said he plans to step away briefly from boxing to recover before returning to a more familiar division.
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He said his focus remains on winning a cruiserweight world title, stressing that he intends to heal fully, reset, and face opponents closer to his natural weight. Paul added that he has been competing intensely for six years and needs time to regroup.
True to his reputation for courting attention and controversy, Paul framed the loss as another chapter in his mission to disrupt boxing. Until recently, a fight with Joshua appeared unrealistic, but he has now added the British star to his résumé.
Before moving up to heavyweight, Paul had been active in the cruiserweight division and was ranked 14th by the WBA in July, later slipping one place. A return to cruiserweight now appears the most practical route if he hopes to challenge for a recognised world title.
Bidarian revealed that Paul drove himself to the hospital after the fight to confirm the injury and is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks. Once cleared to return in 2026, Paul could begin targeting higher ranked opponents, with Manchester based Pat Brown emerging as a possible contender.
Brown is unbeaten in five professional bouts and could benefit from the exposure a fight with Paul would bring. Paul has also continued to express interest in a long sought clash with Canelo Alvarez, while a rematch with Tommy Fury, the only other man to beat him, remains on the table.
For now, the defeat to Anthony Joshua marks a sobering moment in Jake Paul’s career, underscoring the risks of crossing weight classes against proven champions.
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