In a significant setback for Jake Paul’s burgeoning boxing career, the Florida Athletic Commission has imposed an indefinite medical suspension on the YouTuber-turned-boxer following his devastating sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Paul suffered a double fracture to his jaw when Joshua delivered a powerful right hook in the final round. The British boxer’s dominance was evident as he scored four knockdowns throughout the bout, two in the fifth round and two more in the sixth, before the referee halted the contest. Paul was immediately rushed to the hospital, where medical staff confirmed fractures in two separate locations on his jaw. The severity of the injury necessitated surgical intervention.
On Saturday, December 20, Paul posted from his hospital bed, confirming that the procedure went smoothly. Surgeons fitted two titanium plates on each side of his mouth and extracted several teeth to accommodate the plating. ‘Just got out of surgery. Everything went smooth,’ Paul wrote on social media. ‘Lots of pain and stiffness. Gotta eat liquids for 7 days.’
The Florida Athletic Commission’s decision means Paul cannot return to competitive boxing until he receives full medical clearance from a licensed physician. This standard protocol applies to serious facial injuries. Other fighters from the December 19 event faced varying bans, with Tyron Woodley receiving a 30-day suspension, Justin Cardona getting 60 days, and Camilla Panatta and Yokasta Valle each receiving 30 days.
MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian indicated that Paul’s physical recovery timeline could span four to six weeks before the boxer is cleared to resume training. Paul’s ambitious post-fight comments about returning to cruiserweight and pursuing a world title have now been shelved. The setback coincides with his removal from the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings on December 31, ending his brief tenure at No. 14 following his July entry after defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Paul’s knockout loss marked his first ever in 14 professional bouts and his second career defeat overall. The gap in experience and size, Joshua weighed 26.8 pounds more and stood five inches taller, proved insurmountable, despite Paul lasting longer than many analysts predicted. Joshua’s scorecards showed complete dominance, with judges awarding him every round before the knockout, including a brutal 10-7.
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