American boxer Jake Paul was taken to hospital in the early hours of December 20 after his highly anticipated heavyweight bout with Anthony Joshua ended in a stoppage defeat in Miami.
Paul, 28, showed resilience by lasting six rounds against the former two-time heavyweight world champion, but the contest swung decisively in Joshua’s favour as the fight wore on. The Briton’s power told in the later stages, sending Paul to the canvas twice across the fifth and sixth rounds before the referee’s count brought the fight to an end.
In his immediate reaction after the bout, Paul suggested the damage could be significant, admitting he feared his jaw had been broken. He later failed to attend the scheduled post-fight press conference, prompting confirmation from his team that he had gone to hospital for precautionary medical checks.
Most Valuable Promotions chief Nakisa Bidarian played down concerns, stressing that Paul was in stable condition and travelled to hospital without assistance.
“We believe he broke his jaw, but he’s okay,” Bidarian said. “He took a shower and drove himself to the hospital. A broken jaw is not unusual in combat sports, and recovery usually takes around four to six weeks.”
Entering the fight as a clear underdog, Paul attempted to offset Joshua’s size and strength with movement and speed. While he had moments where he held his own, the difference in experience and natural weight became increasingly obvious, leading some observers to question the competitiveness of the matchup.
Paul has spent the majority of his professional career fighting at cruiserweight and has already indicated that his future lies back in that division rather than at heavyweight.
“We’ll heal up and come back to fight people my size,” Paul said. “My goal is the cruiserweight world title. I’m going to take a short break—I’ve been pushing nonstop for six years.”
Not long ago, the prospect of Paul stepping into the ring with Joshua seemed unrealistic. The bout, however, went ahead and added another surprising chapter to a career defined by unconventional choices and headline-grabbing challenges.
Prior to the Joshua fight, Paul had been campaigning at cruiserweight and was informed by the WBA in July that he would be ranked 14th in the division. He has since dropped one spot, making a return to cruiserweight the clearest path if he is serious about pursuing a world title.
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Once medically cleared and eligible to compete again in 2026, Paul is expected to assess potential opponents above him in the rankings. One possible target is Manchester’s Pat Brown, who remains unbeaten after five professional outings and could benefit from the spotlight such a fight would bring.
Paul has also continued to publicly chase a blockbuster showdown with four-weight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, a fight that would keep him firmly in the global conversation. Meanwhile, a rematch with Tommy Fury—the only fighter to have beaten Paul so far—remains an unresolved storyline in his evolving boxing journey.
