‘Learned my lesson’ – Jake Paul issues update on boxing future with career hanging in balance after Anthony Joshua loss

JAKE PAUL has issued an update on his future in boxing – after Anthony Joshua left his career and jaw in tatters. The YouTuber-turned-boxer bravely but dangerously took on two-time heavyweight world champion AJ in December. Jake Paul has issued an update on his future in boxing Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Anthony Joshua broke Jake Paul’s jaw Credit: Shutterstock Editorial And it ended in round six when a right hand floored Paul – leaving him with a shattered jaw that required two surgeries. The American had admitted he was unsure whether he would ever be able to fight again. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! But Paul has since revealed he is set to be cleared to spar again – paving the way for a return to the ring. He told Pat McAfee: “I’m gonna get cleared like officially to spar in the next couple of weeks. I’m gonna get back to it and keep on fighting. “Maybe do some MMA. We’ve got a lot of stuff with MVP coming soon. Big promotions, getting more into the whole MMA world. “The feud between MVP MMA and UFC continues.” Paul, 29, was originally set to face lightweight Gervonta Davis, 31, in an exhibition bout. But Davis was pulled out amid accusations of domestic abuse – leaving Paul scrambling to find an opponent to save his mega-money payday. Most read in Sport The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. Anthony Joshua returns to the ring in July to face Kristian Prenga ahead of a potential blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury later in the year. The Gypsy King also features in a warm-up bout the day before AJ, as he takes on Mariusz Wach in Thailand. And Moses Itauma returns for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… July Sat 18 – Harlem Eubank vs David Papot – DAZN Fri 24 – Tyson Fury vs Mariusz Wach Sat 25 – Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga – DAZN PPV Sun 26 – Errol Spence Jr vs Tim Tszyu August Sat 1 – Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – DAZN Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS And he settled for 6ft 6in Joshua, 36, who outweighed him by TWO STONE. Paul, who earned £45MILLION alone last year, said: “I just probably won’t fight Olympic gold medal heavyweights anymore. “I learned my lesson. I learned my lesson. But if the paycheck is big enough, I’ll fight anybody. I’ll break it again. “People were coming up to me like, ‘Dude, like how was that getting your jaw broken?’ I was like, ‘Man, it hurt, but I mean, the wire the next day felt a lot better.’ “I felt a lot better after that.” Paul promoted his first MMA event in May when Ronda Rousey, 39, returned after ten years out to beat Gina Carano, 44. He is now considering a move into MMA himself after calling out Nate Diaz – who he beat in the ring in 2023 – as well as ex-UFC champ Brock Lesnar. Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 49, and Terence Crawford, 38, are also names Paul has called out for his next fight. He added: “Definitely still fighting. We’re in talks right now with multiple opponents and just figuring out like when we’re gonna come back.” Comment now