Jake Paul's Next Fight: Will “Problem Child” Box Again After Medical Suspension?

Encouraged by his wins over Mike Tyson and others, Jake Paul decided to step into the ring with Anthony Joshua last December. It was a bad decision: he ended up with a broken jaw.

Key Takeaways:

• Jake Paul’s medical suspension pauses the noise, but doesn’t close the door.
• A broken jaw (not a broken career) will shape Paul’s boxing future.
• Exhibitions, influencers, or MMA may define Jake Paul’s next move.

But "The Problem Child" has never been quiet. Every phase of his boxing career has arrived loud, controversial, and designed to dominate attention.

From viral knockouts to record-breaking streams, he’s turned what many dismissed as a gimmick into a business model that keeps dragging boxing back into the mainstream conversation.

Now, though, the noise has paused. A medical suspension after Paul lost to Anthony Joshua has put his boxing future in limbo. It raised a simple yet uncomfortable question for fans and bettors alike:

Will he ever box again, or has the circus finally come to an end?

This isn’t just idle speculation. Instead, it's been confirmed that he's received an indefinite medical suspension. The word "indefinite" isn't synonymous with "permanent", meaning that he might fight again.

Paul’s return (or lack thereof) has implications for boxing organizations, streaming platforms, and even bookmakers. It's just that everyone in the boxing world has grown used to his gravitational pull.

Let’s break down what the suspension actually means, how we got here, and where this road realistically leads.

Medical Hold for Broken Jaw in Anthony Joshua Bout

Jake Paul didn’t “lose his chin” — he suffered a jaw-related injury that triggered a medical hold, not a permanent durability issue.

Here’s what actually happened : after the Anthony Joshua bout, Jake Paul was flagged with a jaw injury that required medical evaluation.

That’s what led to the indefinite medical suspension. The word indefinite tends to trigger panic, but in boxing, it rarely means permanent exile.

Medical suspensions exist to protect fighters, not punish them. When a commission steps in, it’s usually after a bout raises red flags around a fighter’s health, recovery timeline, or long-term safety.

In Jake Paul’s case, the suspension isn’t about misconduct or rule-breaking. It’s about clearance. Until medical professionals are satisfied that he’s fit to compete, no sanctioned boxing bout is happening.

There are no loopholes, no hype-driven shortcuts, just straight science. Doctors will do all sorts of testing, check MRIs, CT scans, and whatnot to figure out whether or not he can come back.

The Comeback Blueprint(s) Jake Paul Should Follow

In most cases, though, boxers do come back after such injuries. Boxing history is full of fighters who were written off after serious injuries like the one Paul suffered at the hands of Anthony Joshua.

Some didn't just return to the ring, but continued to compete at the top level, even ending with championship belts around their waists.

Some of the examples that Paul could follow include:

• Oscar Valdez: He fought most of his 2018 bout with Scott Quigg carrying a broken jaw (suffered in the fifth round), yet still boxed his way to a clear unanimous decision. The damage later required his jaw to be wired shut for two months, forcing a liquid-only diet during recovery.
• Cleveland Williams: He was shot in the stomach by a policeman during a civil rights movement event in 1964. Just two years later, he was fighting Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title. He lost (by TKO) but then went on to fight another 20 bouts, winning 17 of those.
• Willie Pep: He was famous for his punch-dodging boxing style that culminated with the "no-punch" winning round (it's exactly as it sounds: he won the round despite landing zero punches). Still, the most impressive thing about this guy is that he survived a plane crash in 1947 and then went on to win 10 straight bouts that same year.
• Vinny Paz: He broke his neck in two places in a car crash in 1991. Even though it was a life-threatening injury, he recovered quickly, getting back to the boxing gym a few months later. Since then, he fought another 24 bouts before retiring in 2004.
• Terence Crawford: "Bud" was shot in the head when he was 20. At the age of 38, he beat Canelo Alvarez for super-middleweight gold and retired undefeated with an 18-0 record.

Some boxers were hit with much harder misfortunes than Paul, but managed to bounce back. He, too, has a very good chance of returning to, but he needs to stay patient. The thing is that medical suspensions end once fighters complete the required rest periods.

The variable is time. Some are clear in weeks. Others stretch into months. The longer it drags on, the more it reshapes career decisions.

Will Jake Paul Return to the Ring?

It's very, very likely that he will make his comeback. Maybe not this year, but he's almost certainly going to fight again. After all, he's just 29, which in boxing terms, isn't much.

In fact, according to Guinness World Records, the oldest person to compete in a pro boxing match is Albert Hughes, who was 70 years and 234 days old when he fought his final match.

Paul is obviously too young to retire, and let's not forget he loves boxing. He loves money, too, as his estimated net worth of $200 million clearly shows.

Speaking of cash, his fights attract serious money. Fighting against Paul results in a big payday for his opponents, which is why he should have no problem finding someone to fight.

When Jake's potential 2026 opponents are discussed, some big names keep popping up: Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao, and even the former heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder.

That said, there’s an important wrinkle here. A fully sanctioned professional return isn’t the only option. An exhibition or amateur-style bout could be agreed more easily, depending on the jurisdiction and the terms of medical clearance.

This is good news because it expands the already huge list of potential rivals. It's no longer just pro boxers who are in the conversation, but social media stars as well.

Of course, given that this is Jake Paul we're talking about, we must expect opponents chosen for noise. Therefore, Andrew Tate is an obvious candidate, especially after his embarrassing 2025 loss to pink glove-wearing debutant Chase DeMoor.

Other influencer options include KSI or his brother Deji, both proven draws. The strangest (but safest) option is his own brother Logan.

The fight would pose no real risk to either of the Paul brothers and would guarantee headlines. Most importantly, Jake’s jaw would stay intact.

We could also see him switch up a sport. Rather than fighting another boxing bout, he could move to MMA.

Jake Paul to Switch to MMA Fighting?

He’s already fought several MMA fighters, albeit in a boxing ring. Now, after Anthony Joshua blew his dreams (and jaw) to pieces, Paul might decide to pay a visit to the MMA cage.

Is Paul’s PFL Story Over Before it Even Started?

In January 2023, Jake Paul signed a multi-year deal with the Professional Fighters League that was supposed to lead to at least one MMA bout. The idea was to slot Paul into a newly launched “Super Fight” division, which would be less about rankings and more about spectacle.

The framework was there, the timelines talked up. And there were plenty of PFL fighters that would suit Jake Paul perfectly: social media stars with skills he can handle.

For instance, there's Biaggio Ali Walsh – the grandson of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali – who is a PFL fighter and would be a fantastic matchup for Paul, given his striking-first style.

What never followed was the actual walk to the cage. In 2026, whispers about the deal falling through are getting louder and louder.  

Jake Paul & UFC = Perfect Match

Paul's cancellation of his PFL contract would open the door to making deals with other promotions. This includes the UFC, which could organize a spectacular fight between The Problem Child and the biggest MMA star in history – Conor McGregor.  

The Irishman is currently serving his own suspension. It's not for medical issues, but for abuse of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

The good news for The Notorious is that he's supposed to return by summer. In fact, there are rumors that Dana White is planning to put Conor on the UFC White House card. Who knows, maybe he's thinking of slipping Paul in there as well?

Jake probably wouldn’t mind taking part in Donald Trump’s birthday celebrations on the South Lawn. After all, he’s known to be a fan of the President, having supported him in his 2024 run. 

Former WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves has floated the idea of Paul facing McGregor in a hybrid format: part boxing, part bare-knuckle, part wrestling.

It’s a concept fight built for chaos, crossover appeal, and headlines rather than sporting purity.

Another name that pops up in the conversation is Sean Strickland. The two came close to fighting a boxing bout in 2024 after an online feud. However, according to the former UFC champion, the organization prevented him from fighting Paul.

We could also see some of Paul’s former boxing opponents fighting him again, but this time in the Octagon.

Tyron Woodley would almost certainly be thrilled if a trilogy with Paul was agreed. The same goes for Anderson Silva, who'd probably have no objections to unretiring for a fight like this.

All this applies to Nate Diaz, as well. Then, there’s Mike Perry, who suffered a knockout loss to Paul in 2024.

Jake Paul’s Boxing Career: From Joke to Juggernaut

Strip away the memes and the sarcasm, and Jake Paul’s boxing résumé tells a fascinating story. He didn’t stumble into relevance. He engineered it.

He started by targeting fellow influencers, building confidence and visibility simultaneously. Then he pivoted, following the creation of his own boxing organisation (MVP Promotions).

He fought former MMA champions, seasoned strikers, and some big names that carried weight, even if their primes were behind them.

The strategy was clear: win, learn, escalate.

Paul trained seriously, hired credible coaches, and treated boxing like a profession rather than a stunt. The results weren’t flawless, but they were real enough to force the boxing world into an awkward admission.

He wasn’t good for a YouTuber. He was simply… good.

The King of YouTube Boxing

No one in history has monetised influencer boxing like Jake Paul. Not even close.

Every event became a cultural moment, blending combat sports with digital-era promotion. What we're talking about are trash-talk clips for TikTok, weigh-ins staged like WWE promos, and fight nights designed as global streaming events.

Love him or hate him, he built the blueprint. And the numbers backed it up. His fights consistently outperformed traditional boxing broadcasts among younger audiences.

Sponsors followed. Platforms competed. Boxing purists groaned, but promoters paid attention.

This wasn’t a sideshow anymore. It was a parallel economy that made his YouTube channel among the most popular on the planet.

But that wasn't enough for him. He sought recognition from boxing royalty. To get their attention, he launched his own organisation.

The Rise of Jake’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions is Jake Paul’s power base. Launched to control matchmaking, timing, and narrative, MVP has consistently delivered headline fights on Paul’s terms.

Under its banner, Paul boxed former UFC names like Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Mike Perry, blending combat credibility with mainstream reach.

He even fought some proper boxers, starting with Tommy Fury. Tyson Fury’s younger brother was the first pro boxer that The Problem Child faced. He did put on a good fight, but eventually lost by split decision.

From there, he went on to box against a few more pros, although not one of them was quite elite.

The peak of Paul’s MVP promotion came in 2024, when they organized the bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

Beating Mike Tyson: The Night That Broke the Internet

The bout against Mike Tyson was the pinnacle of Jake Paul’s fame. Not because of competitive stakes, but because of symbolism.

A generational icon stepping back into the ring to take on a modern internet-era antagonist was irresistible. The result? The most-streamed boxing event in history.

It didn’t matter that Tyson was long retired. It didn’t matter that the fight was more spectacle than sport. What mattered was scale. Boxing reached people who hadn’t watched a single round in years.

For Jake Paul, it was validation. He wasn’t borrowing fame anymore. He was creating moments the sport couldn’t ignore. But then came the crash.

Getting Destroyed by Anthony Joshua: Reality Check

Facing Anthony Joshua was a different universe entirely. AJ was bigger (in the literal sense of the word) than anyone he'd faced before.

The 6'6 Olympic gold medalist, weighing 243.4 pounds, turned out to be too powerful a force for Paul to handle.

On that faithful night in December 2025, AJ did what world-class heavyweights do best: he turned the lights off for his opponent.

Paul didn’t just lose. He was exposed and suffered a serious injury along the way.

And that mattered more than any previous win. It drew a clear line between influencer-boxing success and the reality of elite professional boxing. For the first time, the ceiling was visible.

Ironically, that loss may have done Paul some good. It reset expectations. It reminded audiences (and perhaps Paul himself) that boxing hierarchy still exists.

Place Some Bets While You Wait for Jake Paul's Return

The boxing planet hasn’t stopped spinning with Jake Paul being suspended.

While his future unfolds behind medical paperwork and negotiations, the sport continues to offer value for bettors willing to look past headlines.

We're talking title fights, eliminators, rising prospects, undercard mismatches, and more. All these present opportunities if you’re disciplined with research and price comparison.

There are plenty of blockbuster bouts for which Gamdom has already released odds. In our online sportsbook, you can bet on all of the following:

• Eduardo Nunez vs. Emanuel Navarrete
• Anthony Cacace vs. James Dickens
• Keith Thurman vs. Sebastian Fundora
• Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios
• Josh Warrington vs. Leigh Wood
• Derek Chisora vs. Deontay Wilder
• Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin

You can bet on all of the bouts from the list above (along with 40+ other fights) on Gamdom – find the odds in our boxing betting section!

On top of that, you can also expect us to release betting odds for Canelo Alvarez's fight in September as soon as his next opponent is confirmed.

That said, you can bet that we'll release Jake Paul's odds quickly as well if (or better say, when) he decides to return to the ring.

Will Jake Paul Fight Again – Our Prediction

Jake Paul will probably, but not the way he used to.

The Cleveland-born YouTuber-turned-boxer is too commercially valuable to disappear quietly, and too competitive to walk away without closure.

However, a straight-line return to high-risk professional matchups seems unlikely in the short term. He'll want to stay away from knockout experts like Anthony Joshua for a while.

A somewhat staged re-entry is more plausible. What we're talking about is an exhibition bout, with a carefully selected opponent. That kind of a bout would satisfy commissions while protecting both his long-term health and brand value.

If medical clearance comes through, expect a return framed as a comeback story rather than a challenge to boxing’s elite.

If clearance drags on, Paul may pivot harder into promotion, commentary, or influencer-led events that keep him adjacent to the ring without stepping inside it.

Either way, the idea that we’ve seen the last of Jake Paul in boxing feels premature.

Don’t Wait for Jake Paul to Return, Bet on Boxing at Gamdom Now!