Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua 2: What He Must Change

Updated: October 2026

The Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua rematch is the most dangerous question in boxing. Their December 19, 2025 meeting at the Kaseya Center in Miami ended with a sixth-round knockout — and a jaw broken in two places for Paul. Two surgeries and roughly 293 days later, he was cleared to fight again in early October 2026, as his MVP team told USA Today on October 8, 2026. Now fans ask the unthinkable: could he run it back?

Facts first: as of October 2026, no Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua rematch has been announced, and Joshua is not on Paul's "Before I rest..." wish list. Everything below is hypothetical analysis. All predictions are opinion.

What Happened in Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua 1

There's no softening it: Paul was knocked out in the sixth round by one of the most destructive punchers of the modern heavyweight era. He showed genuine courage — he came to win, not survive — but courage doesn't block right hands. Joshua's size, timing, and power found their mark, and the result was as definitive as knockouts get.

The injury told the story of the night's violence: a jaw broken in two places, two surgeries, the better part of a year out of the ring. Paul's record stands at 12 wins, 2 losses, and 7 knockouts in 14 fights — and the Joshua loss is the exclamation point on it.

Why Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua 2 Is (and Isn't) on the Table

The argument for it is pure prizefighting logic: nothing sells like revenge. Paul built his brand on the audacious — fighting a former heavyweight champion was audacious, and running it back would be the most on-brand move imaginable.

The argument against it is medical and obvious. Fighters with broken jaws don't typically rush rematches with the man who broke them, and Joshua's power didn't diminish while Paul recovered. Paul's wish list points elsewhere — Wilder, Canelo, McGregor, a world title shot. The silence from both camps is deafening, and probably wise.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua 2: What He Must Change

Analysis and opinion — this fight is not scheduled. A rematch would require tearing down the first fight's game plan entirely:

• Defense becomes the entire game plan. Paul stood in range too long last time and paid full price. A rematch must be built on movement, clinching, and spoiling — not trading.
• The jab becomes a shield, not a probe. It must double as a defensive barrier, keeping the bigger man at the end of it for as many minutes as possible.
• Forget the knockout. Paul's 7 KOs in 14 fights are real power — but not Joshua-stopping power. Any path to victory runs through the scorecards.
• Conditioning for a different fight. Twelve rounds of movement and defensive responsibility is a demand Paul has never trained for; his engine would need rebuilding around evasion.
• Mental scar tissue. Fighters who've been badly hurt sometimes flinch at punches they once walked through. Only a real fight reveals whether the jaw — and the confidence behind it — truly healed.

The Medical Reality: Coming Back From a Broken Jaw

A broken jaw is one of boxing's most psychologically difficult injuries — the classic knockout button, the exact target every opponent will aim for from the opening bell of Paul's comeback. Medical clearance means the bone healed; it doesn't erase the instinctive flinch or guarantee the rebuilt jaw holds up the same way twice.

That's why Paul's return opponent matters. History is full of fighters who came back too ambitiously from facial injuries and paid for it. A measured first step — durable, famous, but less concussive — is the standard prescription. Joshua is the opposite of that.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua 2: Could He Actually Win?

Opinion. No honest analyst makes Paul the favorite here. The first fight wasn't a lucky punch — it was a systematic breakdown. For the sequel to differ, Paul would need the perfect defensive performance of his life and a diminished Joshua.

Not impossible — heavyweights age fast, and one great night changes everything. But it's a lottery ticket, not a plan. If Joshua 2 ever happens, it'll be because the money was too big to refuse, not because the boxing logic demanded it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has a Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua rematch been announced?

No. As of October 2026, no rematch has been announced, and Joshua is not on Paul's published "Before I rest..." opponent wish list.

What happened in the first Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight?

Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Paul suffered a jaw broken in two places.

How long was Jake Paul out after the Joshua fight?

Approximately 293 days. He underwent two surgeries and was cleared to return to boxing in early October 2026, as reported via his MVP team to USA Today on October 8, 2026.

Would Paul be the underdog in a rematch?

Overwhelmingly so, in our opinion. The first fight ended in a decisive knockout, and nothing about the matchup has fundamentally changed in Paul's favor.

The bottom line: Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua 2 is a fantasy built on courage, not logic. Paul earned respect taking the first fight and paid with a rebuilt jaw. The smart move is a careful rebuild toward his wish-list names — and if Joshua 2 ever materializes, let it be a choice made from strength, not pride. Some mountains are climbed once; surviving the climb is the victory.