Jake Paul Admits Boxing Future Is Uncertain Following Anthony Joshua Defeat

Jake Paul has said that his boxing career is still in question as he continues to recover from the serious injury he suffered in his knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua at the end of last year.

The social media star is not yet back in the ring, and he has said there is still a long way to go to determine if he is cleared to return to the ring. On a recent episode of the show hosted by Ariel Helwani, Paul shared some of his experiences with his recovery and some of the issues with his long-term health.

Massive Step Up In Competition

Paul made his first step into the world of professional boxing in 2020 and has been one of the biggest crossover stars the sport has ever seen. Most of his fights took place in the cruiserweight division, where he faced several former MMA fighters and smaller boxing opponents.

The fight against Joshua was both a weight class and a level of competition jump. Joshua was by far the most accomplished boxer that Paul had ever faced, as he was a two-time unified heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist. Paul was unable to overcome the challenge and ended up getting stopped as well as suffering a broken jaw during the match.

The Recovery Is Ongoing

A few months after the fight, Paul said that the healing process is ongoing and that his medical condition is being monitored. Paul said he plans to have more scans of his jaw in the near future to check on his injury’s healing and will provide more updates as soon as they are available. 

The medical examinations should give a better idea of whether he can return to boxing in the future, he said. Paul said that the prospect of not fighting again is still an option, depending on the circumstances of the injury.

Unable To Return To Full Training

Paul has stated that his jaw has been improving over time, but hasn’t yet been cleared to spar. Currently in recovery, he’s been able to be active only in a limited fashion with light gym time and mitt work without contact.

Paul said he still goes to the gym regularly because it is still a good habit for him to have, even if he has to go through the ups and downs of his career. He stressed that medical clearance is the most important step before serious plans for a return are considered.

The jaw injury was not the only thing Paul suffered during the fight, as he not only lost a tooth, but may need dental implants as part of the recovery. The extra dental work may increase the time it will take for Paul to heal completely, Paul says. There are lots of unknowns about how long he may require to recover and what his best course of action for the future may be, he admitted.

Paul’s Previous and Upcoming Boxing Opponents

In his pro career, Jake Paul has fought 14 opponents and has 12 victories, two defeats, and 7 KOs. He started in 2020 and defeated the former NBA player Nate Robinson and another YouTuber, AnEsonGib. Then, Paul defeated ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (twice), Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. 

He suffered his first career defeat, in a split decision to professional boxer Tommy Fury in early 2023, but bounced back with a series of wins over Andre August, Ryan Bourland, Mike Perry, and boxing legend Mike Tyson. The last time he won was his unanimous decision victory against former world champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in June 2025, followed by his most recent heavyweight defeat to Joshua and jaw injury in Dec. 2025.

Paul does not have a fight scheduled, and his boxing future is in doubt after he suffered a broken jaw.  Paul has mentioned a “four-man list” for his return, including Tommy Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Francis Ngannou, and Ryan Garcia. He has also expressed an ongoing interest in a high-profile match against Canelo Alvarez.

Waiting For Medical Answers

Paul currently appears focused on his recovery rather than rushing a return to boxing. The next scans will hopefully clear up whether he can safely return to full-contact training and ultimately return to competition. Until then, uncertainty continues to surround one of boxing’s most polarizing figures as fans wait to see whether he will ever step back into the ring.

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