Jake Paul faces a potential two-month suspension from boxing after his brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on Friday night in Miami. The former YouTuber, who has built a controversial career in professional fighting, was stopped in the fifth round after Joshua fractured his jaw in two places. The event, streamed live on Netflix to an estimated 300 million global subscribers, generated a reported purse of $138 million (£103 million).
Paul’s gameplan of constant retreat and minimal engagement drew boos from the crowd within the first minute. He threw fewer than ten punches per round and was visibly exhausted by the third. Referee Kenny Bayless deducted no points despite Paul repeatedly taking a knee to avoid further punishment. The fight nearly sold out the 20,000-seat Kaseya Center, with tickets as low as $31 on fight night.
Critics have described the spectacle as an artless, cynical exercise that laid bare boxing’s contradictions. Paul, 27, has been praised for his dedication to the sport but derided for facing faded MMA fighters, fellow YouTubers, and a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. His theatrical ringwalk with rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was seen as a calculated provocation to maximise outrage and viewership.
Joshua, the former two-time heavyweight champion, looked subdued after the victory, expressing little satisfaction. The British boxer is now expected to pursue a title fight, while Paul’s suspension—if enforced—would sideline him until at least February 2025. Boxing authorities have yet to confirm the ban, but sources indicate it is standard procedure for fighters suffering such severe knockouts.
