Whatever you think of Jake Paul, you've got to admit you probably don't envy his position right now.
After being knocked down twice in the fifth round and taking a brutal KO blow in the sixth, Paul’s much-publicized fight with Anthony Joshua didn't go the way he planned.
The former YouTube creator had been on something of a winning streak, and aside from a February 2023 loss to Tommy Fury, his impressive record boasts 12 wins and two losses. When it comes to his second loss, that came at the hands of Joshua in a fight that blew up big for Netflix.
It's said that over 33 million people tuned in to watch the two-time heavyweight champion pummel the cocksure Jake Paul, while the latter's injuries were so severe, he ducked out of the post-fight interviews to take himself to the hospital. It's a good job Paul put his health first, as he was left with a broken jaw and has been taking his meals through a straw.
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Still, the ever-confident Paul gave fans an update from his hospital bed and vowed to keep fighting.
He's so keen to get back in the ring and lace up his gloves, he's even said he's looking for his next opponent. Then again, when you got paid a reported $92 million for the Joshua fight, some might argue a broken jaw is worth it.
In a recent Instagram post, Paul wrote: "I love this sport. time to rest recover and return to cruiserweight. who do you want to see me fight?"
While the comments were full of suggestions ranging from Andrew Tate to Conor McGregor and a Tommy Fury rematch, Paul was left with no shortage of potential opponents. The problem is, he's currently facing an indefinite suspension from the sport.
The Florida Athletic Commission has suspended Paul due to his jaw being broken in two places. Before he can take on another boxing match, he'll need to be medically cleared by the state to fight. Still, with El Gallo De Dorado not expected to fight again until summer 2026, he should be fighting fit by then.
Joshua is tipped to get back into his shorts a little sooner, with a long-rumoured face-off against Tyson Fury pencilled in for Riyadh in 2026. Ironically, Joshua has also been suspended by the Florida Athletic Commission. For similar reasons to Paul, all fighters are given a mandatory seven-day rest period after being examined by doctors. Day one starts the day after a fight takes place, but with both taking some heavy hits during their fight, we're not sure they'd want to be squaring up to anyone in the immediate future.
The seven-day period is the minimum, and as you get three days of rest per round, the six-round fight extends to 18 days. Technical knockouts equal a 30-day suspension, while a full KO like Paul experienced leads to 60 days of rest.
After the fight, a defiant Paul chuckled, "Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days. I’m feeling good, that was fun."
As much as he might like to take out his rage on Canelo Álvarez in the next 10 days, he's going to be out of action for much longer.