Jake Paul Cleared to Resume Training Following Double Jaw Fracture, Targets Late 2026 Return

Jake Paul has officially been medically cleared to resume full training and sparring, marking the end of a grueling six-month rehabilitation from a severe double jaw fracture. The influencer-turned-boxer received the green light following a final round of medical scans, allowing him to return to contact drills as he targets a comeback in late 2026.

The injury occurred during a highly publicized heavyweight bout against former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua on December 19, 2025. Paul suffered a devastating sixth-round knockout that left him with a fractured jaw, requiring immediate emergency surgery to implant two titanium plates and remove several teeth.[1][2]

The road to recovery was far from straightforward. In February 2026, Paul was forced to undergo a second surgical procedure after the screws and plates in his jaw began to come loose. He candidly admitted on social media that the complication arose because he failed to rest adequately during the initial healing phase.

Doubts regarding his fighting future swirled throughout the spring. In a May interview, Paul conceded that his boxing career was "most definitely" in jeopardy, noting that his return depended entirely on how the bone healed and whether doctors would clear him to take punches again.[1]

However, recent evaluations provided the positive news his camp had been hoping for. During a Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) MMA event, Paul confirmed that the bone had healed successfully and that he would be able to resume sparring within weeks.

Nakisa Bidarian, Paul's partner at MVP, confirmed that the 29-year-old is already back in the gym working with his boxing coaches. While he has been hitting the heavy bag and maintaining his strength and conditioning, the medical clearance allows him to finally reintroduce live sparring into his regimen.[2]

With his health restored, Paul's focus has shifted to his next opponent. Bidarian indicated that Paul is targeting a return to the 200-pound cruiserweight division before the end of 2026, aiming to rebuild his standing after the heavyweight experiment against Joshua knocked him out of the WBA rankings.

While a traditional boxing match is the most likely immediate step, Paul is also aggressively exploring a transition to mixed martial arts. He has repeatedly expressed a desire to test himself in the cage, leveraging his high school wrestling background alongside concentrated jiu-jitsu training.

Bidarian revealed that MVP has held behind-the-scenes discussions with the team of undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk regarding a potential MMA crossover bout in 2026. Usyk has previously teased the idea of facing Paul under MMA rules, acknowledging the massive financial spectacle such an event would generate.[3][4]

Other potential opponents for Paul's return include former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and MMA veteran Nate Diaz. Ngannou and Paul recently traded verbal jabs at an MVP press conference, keeping the door open for a heavyweight clash, while Diaz has continuously pushed for an MMA rematch following his 2023 boxing loss to Paul.

Despite the severe physical toll of his last outing, Paul insists he has no regrets about stepping into the ring with a world-class heavyweight like Joshua. He views the knockout as a valuable learning experience that will make future bouts feel significantly easier by comparison.[1]

"I can just feel it in my spirit, in my soul, in my heart that I have more fights left and unfinished business in my mind," Paul stated. Framing the injury as a necessary hurdle in his combat sports evolution, he remains determined to prove his resilience and continue his unprecedented run in the fight game.[1]