Jake Paul’s Boxing Future: Where Does He Go After Joshua?
Jake Paul’s boxing career has never followed a conventional path, and even after a crushing loss to Anthony Joshua, it seems far from over. The highly publicized heavyweight bout on December 19 in Miami ended with Paul on the canvas, outclassed and outmatched by a two-time world champion. Yet, the YouTuber-turned-fighter made it clear that his journey inside the ring isn’t done.
Despite being dropped four times and suffering what he described as a broken jaw, Paul confirmed post-fight that he will continue boxing but at his natural weight class, cruiserweight.
“I’m going to come back and fight people my weight and go for the cruiserweight world championship at some point,” Paul said. “I’m going to take a little break.”
So, what’s next for one of the most polarizing figures in boxing?
The Joshua Fight: A Reality Check
The fight itself didn’t offer much suspense. Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and former unified heavyweight champion, dominated from the start. Paul circled the ring, often clinching to avoid Joshua’s powerful shots. Eventually, the British boxer connected with a brutal straight right that ended the match in the sixth round.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter, praised Paul’s toughness.
“Hats off to Jake,” Hearn said. “A broken jaw is really difficult to come back from, but that last shot AJ hit him with would have knocked out a lot of heavyweights.”
While the fight exposed the skill gap between Paul and elite-level competition, it also highlighted his grit. He kept getting up, despite the punishment.
Can Jake Paul Still Compete?
The loss to Joshua didn’t signal the end of Paul’s career, but it did mark the beginning of a more complicated phase. With 14 professional fights under his belt, Paul is no longer a novelty. He’s expected to make legitimate career moves. That means he can’t go back to fighting past-their-prime MMA stars or undersized opponents. The public won’t buy into it, and neither will the sport’s insiders.
Paul himself has said his goal is to win a cruiserweight world title. However, that’s a serious leap.
At cruiserweight, champions like Jai Opetaia, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, and Noel Mikaelian dominate. These aren’t social media celebrities or part-time athletes. They are experienced boxers who’ve paid their dues and earned their belts. Beating any of them would require more than a break and a comeback, it would require transformation.
Business vs Legacy
Here’s where Paul’s future gets tricky.
From a business standpoint, Paul still draws massive interest. His fights generate buzz, views, and money. Even in defeat, he headlines major cards and captures headlines. But if he wants to chase a world title, he’ll need to step out of the entertainment-first approach and embrace the grind of real boxing development.
Joshua acknowledged this tightrope.
“America, I think you have someone who could potentially come back,” Joshua said. “Maybe against Gervonta Davis or Ryan Garcia, who knows?”
It’s telling that Joshua mentioned two much smaller fighters. While such matchups would be box-office gold, they’d also face criticism. Paul would be accused of ducking serious threats. Again.
So, Paul has a choice: go for high-risk, high-reward legacy fights in cruiserweight, or continue with celebrity-style matchups that sell, even if they’re not taken seriously by the boxing world.
A Tougher Road Ahead
Paul is 29 in January. While that’s not old in boxing terms, it’s not exactly young for someone who still has a steep learning curve ahead. Most champions have spent their teens and twenties building ring IQ, fighting across styles, and surviving wars in the gym and in the ring. Paul’s learning on the job, and against elite-level talent.
Still, his resilience can’t be overlooked. Not every fighter gets back up after four knockdowns. Not every fighter eats a shot from Anthony Joshua and tries to clinch his way to survival.
But as ESPN noted, there were signs of inexperience. His game plan, circling without offense, clinching excessively, fell flat. It wasn’t entertaining. It wasn’t effective. And it wasn’t what his fans were used to.
The Fans Will Still Watch
Regardless of his next move, Jake Paul will remain a talking point in boxing. His fans remain loyal, eager to see how he rebounds. His critics? They’ll keep watching too, if only to see him fall again. In a sport that thrives on attention, Paul remains one of the few figures who can command it at will. The mainstream audience, curious and skeptical, will continue to tune in whenever his next opponent is announced. That’s the power of Jake Paul. He brings eyes to the sport, even if he doesn’t always bring purist-approved performances.
What Makes Sense Now?
Looking ahead, Paul has options, none of them easy.
Option 1: Fight a legitimate cruiserweight contender. Risky, but it keeps his championship hopes alive.
Option 2: Take a lower-profile comeback fight to regain confidence. Not ideal for business but may be necessary.
Option 3: Book a mega-money crossover match with a name like Ryan Garcia or Gervonta Davis. Huge buzz, but possibly huge backlash.
Whatever direction he chooses, Paul’s brand ensures the spotlight won’t fade. But to earn real respect in boxing, he’ll need more than cameras. He’ll need a convincing win , against a real boxer, in his weight class.
Paul’s Story Isn’t Over
Jake Paul didn’t beat Anthony Joshua. He didn’t shock the world. But he proved something: he’s not a quitter. He’s not just a gimmick. And he’s willing to get hurt for something he believes in.
That may not be enough to win titles right now. But it’s enough to keep him in the conversation.
For Paul, the next fight will define whether this journey is about championship ambition or entertainment empire. Either way, the boxing world will be watching.
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