MIAMI — Jake Paul has done everything he can to become a disruptor in boxing. No matter how much they try, fans have failed to ignore his antics. It led to a fight against Anthony Joshua, one of the biggest stars in boxing.
Paul left the ring with a broken jaw and a second loss to his name. However, it wasn’t a total loss, especially with what he did.
Paul went from being a YouTuber and Vine content creator starring on a Disney show to owning Most Valuable Promotions and selling out arenas for fights on Netflix. He just faced a former two-time unified heavyweight champion. That is something a loss can’t take away.
It was mentioned that before facing Paul, Ryan Bourland had a record of 17-2. Canelo Alvarez fought someone making their pro debut in his 10th contest. Deontay Wilder fought Alvaro Morales, who had a 4-7-5 record. In his 14th pro fight, Paul fought Joshua.
MORE: Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua results from Netflix boxing card
It could be fair to say Joshua was not the same fighter after getting knocked out against Daniel Dubois more than a year ago. However, he still had his power, which was more than enough to topple Paul multiple times.
The fight may not have been universally praised when booked, but it was a better option than the attempted Gervonta Davis fight, where roles were reversed and Paul was the bigger man against the lightweight.
Detractors attempt to cut him from glory. Despite the loss, Paul’s efforts earned applause from a U.S. Crowd that initially attempted to boo him out of the Kaseya Center. He gained respect from fighters across social media who normally threaten him on it.
Given that, how does he recover from the loss?
In “Batman Begins,” Bruce Wayne is asked and told, “Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.”
MORE: Why Jake Paul KO does nothing for Anthony Joshua's legacy
This is not just an attempt at quoting a line from a great film. It’s a mantra that even Paul, after the fight, discussed in front of a crowd that he managed to win over.
Attempting to smile, Paul said he’d be back and eventually win gold. It could just be all talk, or, to many, delusion. But he’s been thinking that way since he started. Look where it got him.
Jake Paul after getting KOd by Anthony Joshua: "I think my jaw is broken." 😭 #JakeJoshua pic.twitter.com/gVexEqR4sq
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) December 20, 2025
Eddie Hearn helped create the Paul boxing experience. Now, they’ve collaborated on shows and have interacted more than they ever thought they would. Who would have guessed that five years ago?
Paul is not the world-beating king of boxing he has presented himself as. But going toe-to-toe with a giant and living to tell the tale will make him think that way. Will he need to be brought back to Earth multiple times? Definitely, especially after this fight. Will he listen? Likely not.
But that's the Jake Paul experience, for better or for worse.
"Batman Begins" also has this quote: "It's not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us."
The loss does not mean the end of Jake Paul in boxing. It's definitely a massive setback. What he does next, whether going back to the well he has been known for, fighting novices or MMA fighters, or taking on legitimate stars, will be what can make or break him.