Did Jake Paul retire from boxing after being knocked out by Anthony Joshua? What he said about his future

Questions around Jake Paul retiring from boxing have surfaced following his punishing defeat to Anthony Joshua, but the influencer-turned-boxer has insisted that stepping away permanently is not on his mind. Jake Paul suffered the most damaging loss of his professional career after stepping up against former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami, a bout that ended in a decisive defeat for the American.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: Fight ends in heavy defeat

Paul entered the contest hoping to cause a major upset against Joshua, but the gulf in experience and power proved decisive. He was dropped four times during the fight and was unable to mount a sustained challenge.


The loss came at a significant physical cost. Paul was hospitalized after the bout, with later confirmation that he had suffered a double jaw fracture. The outcome led to immediate speculation over whether Jake Paul retires from boxing following his toughest test to date.

Jake Paul rejects retirement talk

Despite the severity of the defeat, Paul was quick to dismiss suggestions that he is walking away from the sport. “Yeah, for sure [I want to keep fighting]," he explained. "We’re going to heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight and go for the cruiserweight world title." I’m going to take a little break. I’ve been going hard for six years. I’m going to take some time off.”


Paul later reinforced his intentions in an X post. "Jaw broken. Heart and balls intact. "Time to rest, recover, and return to cruiserweight." The comments appear to directly counter claims that Jake Paul retiring from boxing is imminent.

Who could Jake Paul fight in 2026?

If Paul does return following recovery, as he suggested, there are several potential paths available to him. One option would be another high-profile bout against an established elite fighter, with Paul having repeatedly called out Canelo Alvarez in the past.

Paul has also stated his desire to pursue a cruiserweight world title. Newly crowned champion Noel Mikaelian is expected to be a leading potential target if Paul follows through on that ambition. Another possible route is a rematch with long-time rival Tommy Fury, who defeated Paul in 2023 and remains one of the most commercially viable opponents available.

Jake Paul retires from boxing?

For now, Paul appears focused on recovery rather than retirement. While the defeat to Joshua has intensified debate about his long-term future, his statements suggest that reports of Jake Paul retires from boxing may be premature.