Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Jake Paul boxing career uncertainty has grown after the YouTuber turned fighter admitted the broken jaw he suffered against Anthony Joshua could stop him from returning to the ring.
Paul was stopped by former world champion Joshua in December and said the injury is still being monitored five months later.
The update comes during a busy boxing period that also includes Nikita Tszyu’s Newcastle win over Oscar Diaz, while official boxing updates are available through the World Boxing Association website.
Paul Waiting on Medical Clearance
Paul said he needs doctors to assess how his jaw has healed before he can spar again.
“We’ll see what my doctors say,” Paul told Uncrowned on Monday. “I’ll be able to get a more accurate timeframe, or can I even fight again? That is definitely in the realm and possibilities of things [that I can’t]. [The jaw] does feel a lot better as weeks and time goes by, but I definitely need to get cleared first to be able to spar.
“Most definitely [my boxing career could be over],” he added. “It just depends on how the bone heals. Then, also, there’s a tooth missing. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get an implanted tooth of some sort. I’m not sure how much time that’s going to add to things, but we just have to see and figure out what the smartest thing is for me.”
Joshua Fight Leaves Lasting Damage
The loss to Joshua was only the second defeat of Paul’s 14-fight professional career.
It was also his first bout against a world-class boxer, after previous fights against former athletes, crossover names and older fighters including Mike Tyson and Nate Robinson.
Paul said he does not regret taking the Joshua fight despite the injury.
“I think it was such a win on so many different levels, and I had a really good experience,” Paul said. “Just overall, such a net positive for me, my companies, my fighting experience, my content, and yeah, I just really will fight anybody, to be honest. I’ve been saying that, and I think people now believe me, but I’m here for entertainment purposes.”