BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The aftermath of Jake Paul’s highly publicised heavyweight clash with former world champion Anthony Joshua has taken a serious medical turn, after the American boxer was hospitalised with a broken jaw following his knockout defeat in Miami.
The confirmation was made by Paul’s manager, Nakisa Bidarian, hours after the bout that had dominated global boxing headlines.
The fight, staged at the Kaseya Center, was billed as one of the most controversial match-ups in recent boxing history, pitching the significantly smaller YouTuber-turned-professional boxer against a former unified heavyweight champion.
Despite widespread criticism from boxing purists who questioned the sporting merit of the contest, the bout attracted massive commercial interest and is expected to earn both fighters at least $40 million each.
Entering the ring, Paul weighed approximately 26 pounds less than Joshua, a disparity that became increasingly evident as the fight progressed.
In the early rounds, Paul attempted to compensate for the size and power difference by circling Joshua and relying on movement to stay out of danger.
However, the pressure gradually mounted, with Joshua cutting off the ring and landing heavier shots as the contest wore on.
The turning point came in the later rounds. Paul was knocked down in the fifth round and again in the sixth, the second knockdown prompting the referee to stop the fight and award Joshua a knockout victory.
The stoppage ended Paul’s ambitious attempt to prove himself against one of boxing’s most established names at heavyweight.
Speaking after the fight, Bidarian disclosed that Paul had sustained a broken jaw but was otherwise stable. According to him, the injury did not immediately incapacitate the boxer.
“We think he broke his jaw, but he’s fine. He took a shower and drove himself to the hospital,” Bidarian said, adding that such injuries are not uncommon in combat sports.
He explained that recovery from a broken jaw typically takes between four and six weeks.
Paul later addressed the situation himself, striking a reflective tone after the defeat. He acknowledged the physical setback and suggested that the experience had reinforced the need to compete within his natural weight class.
“We will heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight. I’m going for the cruiserweight world title,” Paul said, indicating plans to take a break after what he described as six intense years of continuous competition.
