After months of “delusional optimism” and Netflix-backed hype, Anthony Joshua stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round at Kaseya Center, Miami, late, last year. And only now are we getting a sense of what’s next.
Joshua took a few rounds to find his rhythm. Then it happened. Not just a win but a dismantling of the myth that a cruiserweight with four years of training could match a two-time unified champion.
And so, in a Miami hospital room, bravado gave way to titanium plates and a liquid diet. For Paul, healing his jaw is only half the battle as the bigger question is whether his world title ambitions survive a full reset.
The Anatomy of the Layoff
A double fracture of the jaw isn’t a “back in the gym next week” injury, particularly as Jake Paul needed surgery to realign his bone.
And months after his knockout loss on Netflix, Paul’s business partner and Most Valuable Promotions co-founder, Nakisa Bidarian, gave the clearest indication yet of just how long the burgeoning boxer will be sidelined for, with a realistic return penciled in for the summer at the earliest.
Bidarian said:
“He will fight again. His goal is to fight in 2026.”
With a possible date on the horizon, it only leaves only a couple questions — who could his opponent be, and whether Paul will drop down a level, or two, after Joshua sent him to the hospital.
Three Possible Jake Paul Comeback Fights
1. Seek Revenge: Tommy Fury II
Fury is the only boxer to have beaten Paul besides AJ. It’s a fight that works globally, there are no 240-pound giants, but a chance to prove he’s actually improved since suffering the first “L” of his career to Tommy back in Saudi Arabia.
2. The Mega Fight: KSI
If the jaw injury saps Paul’s appetite for real contenders, KSI is the ultimate safety net.
It’s commercially massive, bringing together two of the sport’s most notable upstart firms, MVP and Misfits.
3. The Credibility Play: Top-15 Cruiserweight
No more retired MMA fighters, and no more heavyweights. A sanctioned bout against a ranked cruiser — or even a bridger — sends a clear message and continues his championship aspirations after the recent setback.