YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul has been left with a severe double jaw fracture following his knockout defeat to former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, with a leading promoter suggesting his fighting days may be over.
A One-Sided Fight Ends in Devastating Injury
The highly anticipated bout, which took place in Miami on Friday night, concluded in the sixth round when Joshua landed a powerful right hand that sent Paul to the canvas. The fight was largely controlled by the Olympic gold medallist, with Paul adopting a cautious, evasive strategy that often saw him retreating and, at one stage, holding onto Joshua's legs before falling.
Despite the one-sided nature of the contest, Paul drove himself to hospital immediately after the stoppage, suspecting a serious injury. He later confirmed the diagnosis on social media, posting an X-ray image with the caption: "Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days."
Eddie Hearn's Stark Warning for Paul's Future
Anthony Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, offered mixed reactions in the aftermath. While he praised Paul's courage and surprisingly smart game plan at times, he issued a sobering medical prognosis.
"I really take my hat off to him but a broken jaw is very difficult to come back from," Hearn stated. He emphasised the power of Joshua's finishing blow, noting it "would have knocked out a lot of heavyweights."
Hearn continued to commend Paul for stepping into the ring with an elite-level athlete, defending him from critics. However, he circled back to the gravity of the injury: "I think he will have to see how he is physically with his jaw... it's a very difficult injury to come back from." This statement casts significant doubt on whether the social media sensation will ever box professionally again.
What Comes Next for Jake Paul?
The focus for the 28-year-old is now entirely on a long and challenging recovery. A double jaw fracture is a complex injury that requires extensive healing time and can impact an athlete's ability to take punches in the future.
Paul's defiant social media post calling for a fight with superstar Canelo Alvarez is seen as bravado in the face of a major setback. The boxing world will be watching closely to see if Jake Paul can, or even will attempt to, return from the most punishing night of his fledgling boxing career.
