Jake Paul has undergone surgery after suffering a double jaw fracture during his heavyweight defeat to Anthony Joshua in Miami, a fight that ended with the American unable to beat the referee’s count.
The 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer was knocked down repeatedly before the contest was stopped in the sixth round against the former two-time world heavyweight champion. Paul hit the canvas twice across the fifth and sixth rounds and later confirmed his jaw had been broken in two places.
Sharing an update on social media, Paul said surgeons fitted two titanium plates and removed several teeth as part of the procedure.
“Surgery went well, thanks for all the love and support,” Paul wrote. “Have to have only liquids for seven days.”
He also posted an X-ray image showing the extent of the fractures along his jawline.
Paul missed the post-fight news conference due to the injury but still found room for humour, joking online that he would be ready to face Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez “in 10 days”.
Most Valuable Promotions chief Nakisa Bidarian said jaw fractures were not unusual in combat sports.
“A broken jaw is very common in boxing or MMA,” Bidarian said. “The recovery time is four to six weeks.”
Paul entered the bout as a heavy underdog against the vastly more experienced Joshua and attempted to rely on speed and movement to avoid the Briton’s power. The fight drew criticism beforehand because of the size and experience gap between the fighters.
Having spent most of his career at cruiserweight, Paul said he now plans to step away briefly and refocus his ambitions.
“We’ll heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight,” he said. “I’m going for the cruiserweight world title. I’ve been going hard for six years, so I’m taking a little break.”
