Professional boxers Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua have been handed immediate, mandatory suspensions by the Florida Athletic Commission in the wake of their controversial heavyweight bout in Miami.
The Fight and Its Aftermath
The much-hyped contest, which took place on Saturday, 20th December 2025, was overseen by the Florida commission in accordance with Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports rules. The fight itself failed to live up to its billing, devolving into a spectacle that many observers described as tedious. Jake Paul adopted an overwhelmingly defensive posture, spending significant periods on the canvas and offering little offensive threat.
Former world champion Anthony Joshua gradually took control, flooring the YouTube star-turned-boxer in the fifth round before the referee intervened to stop the contest in the sixth. The technical knockout result triggers an automatic medical suspension under standard boxing regulations.
Mandatory Suspensions and Medical Checks
As is protocol after any professional fight, both athletes have been issued with compulsory suspensions. They must each observe a mandatory seven-day rest period beginning immediately after the final bell, accompanied by full medical evaluations.
For Jake Paul, the consequences are more severe. A TKO loss typically comes with an automatic 30-day ban from all boxing activities. However, due to the significant punishment he absorbed during the fight, Paul's suspension could be extended to 60 or even 90 days. Reports from Wales Online indicate the American influencer sustained a fractured jaw during the encounter.
Fighter Reactions and Future Plans
In the aftermath, Jake Paul struck a reflective but determined tone. "I'm going to take a little break. I've been going hard for six years. I'll take some time off," Paul stated. "We will heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight. Anthony Joshua is a great fighter, I got beat but that's what this sport is about. I will come back and keep on winning."
Paul attributed part of his struggle to the size disparity, saying, "I just got tired. It was a lot handling his weight. If I had better cardio I think I could have kept on fighting. I did my personal best."
Victorious, Anthony Joshua was candid in his assessment. "It wasn't the best performance," the British boxer admitted. "The goal was to get Jake Paul out and hurt him. Jake Paul has done really well tonight. I want to give him his props, he got up, time and time again. I just took my time and I got the job done. I refuse to get hurt, I refuse to acknowledge getting hurt. There is no hurt in me."
The suspensions will prevent either fighter from officially competing or sparring until cleared by the commission's medical team, marking a decisive close to a fight that captivated audiences for reasons beyond pure sporting merit.
