Miami, United States – December 2025 – Jake Paul has been taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw following his first stoppage defeat in professional boxing, after being beaten by former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in Miami.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer was stopped in the sixth round of their heavyweight contest at the Kaseya Center, after suffering repeated knockdowns against the vastly more experienced Joshua. Paul was unable to attend the post-fight news conference as a result of his injury.
Paul Suffers First Stoppage Defeat
Paul, 28, was knocked down four times across the fifth and sixth rounds, ultimately failing to beat the referee’s count after a clean right hand from Joshua ended the bout. It marked the first time in Paul’s boxing career that he has been stopped.
Speaking immediately after the fight, Paul suggested his injury was serious.
“I think my jaw is definitely broken,” he said.
His absence from media duties was later explained by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) chief Nakisa Bidarian, who confirmed Paul had gone to hospital for further assessment.
“We think he broke his jaw, but he’s fine,” Bidarian said. “He took a shower and drove himself to hospital. A broken jaw is very common in combat sports like boxing or MMA. The recovery time is usually four to six weeks.”
Mismatch Fight Draws Criticism
The bout had drawn criticism in the build-up due to the significant gap in size, weight, and experience between the fighters. Paul has spent most of his career competing at cruiserweight, while Joshua is a former unified heavyweight champion with knockout power at the elite level.
Paul entered the fight as a heavy underdog and relied on speed and footwork to avoid Joshua’s power shots, spending much of the contest circling the ring. While he managed to survive longer than some expected, the outcome followed the script widely predicted by the boxing world.
Paul Plans Hiatus and Cruiserweight Return
Following the defeat, Paul confirmed he intends to take a break from boxing to recover physically and mentally before returning to a more natural weight division.
“We will heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight,” Paul said. “I’m going for the cruiserweight world title. I’m going to take a little break — I’ve been going hard for six years.”
Paul made his professional boxing debut in 2020 and has since built a polarising career, mixing high-profile crossover bouts with a stated ambition to become a legitimate world champion.
What’s Next for Jake Paul?
Before stepping up to face Joshua, Paul had been campaigning at cruiserweight and was ranked 14th by the WBA in July. He has since slipped one place, but a return to the division remains the most realistic path if he is to pursue a world title challenge.
Once medically cleared to compete in 2026, Paul may begin targeting fighters above him in the WBA rankings. One potential opponent is Pat Brown, the undefeated Manchester-based cruiserweight prospect who could benefit from the exposure of a major fight.
Paul has also continued to express interest in a blockbuster clash with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, despite the vast difference in pedigree, while a rematch with Tommy Fury — the only other loss on his record — remains an unresolved chapter.
Joshua Moves On, Paul Faces Recovery
While Anthony Joshua now shifts focus toward future heavyweight bouts, Paul faces a period of recovery and reflection. Despite the defeat, his ability to generate attention, revenue, and debate remains unmatched among crossover fighters.
Whether his world-title ambitions prove realistic remains to be seen, but Paul has once again ensured he remains part of boxing’s wider conversation — even in defeat.
Leave a Reply