Jake Paul’s future in professional boxing is under serious threat following a devastating double fracture of his jaw sustained in a bruising Friday night bout against Anthony Joshua, according to a leading medical specialist.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer, nicknamed the “Problem Child,” suffered complex injuries to his mandible that could prevent him from ever being medically cleared to fight again, experts say.
Dr. Hamrah, an Oral, Maxillofacial and Facial Surgery specialist, described the damage as far more severe than an ordinary break, revealing that Paul fractured his jaw in two separate locations.
“The injury is not a simple fracture,” Dr. Hamrah explained. “He has a left parasymphysis fracture and a right body fracture. The fracture typically goes through the teeth and roots, which means he also will lose those teeth.”
According to the specialist, surgical intervention is unavoidable. Paul is expected to undergo a procedure involving mini plates and screws to stabilize the jaw, with the possibility of his mouth being wired shut during the healing phase.
“After the fracture heals, usually about eight weeks, it might have to be wired shut,” Dr. Hamrah said. “He is going to get mini plates and screws to bring the bones together.”
Long and Uncertain Recovery
While the initial bone healing could take roughly two months, Dr. Hamrah stressed that full functional recovery is a much longer and more uncertain process. Dental reconstruction alone, including implants and crowns, could take at least six months after the jaw heals.
Strength, however, is the biggest concern.
“It will take nine months for him to regain about 90 percent of his jaw strength,” Dr. Hamrah said. “To be fight-ready, ready to have that jaw hit again, that could be a much longer time or might never come at all.”
The Licensing Obstacle
Beyond recovery time, Paul faces a potentially career-ending challenge from boxing regulators. Athletic commissions enforce strict safety standards, and fighters with permanent hardware in high-impact areas of the face are often denied licenses.
While some boxers have returned after titanium plates were inserted for orbital (eye socket) injuries, most notably Kell Brook, the jaw is considered a far more dangerous impact zone.
“Commissions are especially cautious if plates and screws are positioned where a direct punch could transfer force into the hardware,” a ringside medical official familiar with licensing protocols noted. “That kind of impact could shatter the remaining bone.”
Former world champion Arthur Abraham is often cited as a rare exception, having reportedly fought with titanium plates after a 2006 injury. However, such cases are uncommon and poorly documented in official medical records.
Career at a Crossroads
For Paul, the issue ultimately comes down to safety and structural integrity. If the jaw does not heal perfectly, or if regulators determine the titanium plates pose an unacceptable risk, he may be denied clearance to compete.
As it stands, a projected nine-month recovery combined with permanent metal hardware in the jaw represents a formidable barrier to any comeback.
Jake Paul has built his boxing persona on challenging expectations and defying skeptics. But this time, medical reality, not an opponent, may deliver the final bell.
