TLDR
- Jake Paul had a second jaw surgery two months after his fight with Anthony Joshua
- Screws and plates from his first surgery came loose because he didn’t rest properly
- Paul broke his jaw in the sixth round when Joshua knocked him out in December
- His initial surgery happened immediately after the fight in Miami
- The setback puts his boxing career on hold with no return timeline announced
Sources: UNILAD | Flashscore | Sky Sports
Jake Paul returned to the operating room on Friday for a second jaw surgery, two months after breaking his jaw in a December fight against Anthony Joshua.
The 29-year-old boxer revealed on Instagram that the screws and plates from his first surgery had come loose. He blamed the problem on not resting enough during his recovery period.
“Had to get another jaw surgery. The screws and plates were coming loose because apparently I didn’t rest for the past 2 months whaattttttttt,” Paul wrote in his Instagram post.
Paul shared three videos and three photos showing him preparing for surgery and being wheeled into the operating room in a wheelchair. The images also showed what his mouth should look like after the procedure.
JAKE PAUL has needed more surgery after suffering a broken jaw during his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December https://t.co/kFwBH9dtAGhttps://t.co/k88k7ttyT5
— Irish Sun Sport (@IrishSunSport) February 21, 2026
The Original Injury and First Surgery
Paul suffered a double broken jaw when Joshua knocked him out in the sixth round of their fight at Miami’s Kaseya Center on December 19. Joshua backed Paul into a corner and delivered a right hook to the chin that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Instead of attending the usual post-fight press conferences, Paul went straight to the hospital for emergency surgery. Surgeons used plates and screws to stabilize the fractures, a standard procedure for mandibular injuries.
“Just got out of surgery. Everything went smooth. Thanks for all the love. Lots of pain and stiffness. Gotta eat liquids for 7 days,” Paul posted after his first operation.
He thanked the medical team at Miami University Hospital for their care during the initial procedure. At the time, doctors expected his recovery to go smoothly.
Breaking Recovery Protocol
Despite the serious injury, Paul did not follow a strict rest regimen. He traveled to Italy to attend the 2026 Winter Olympics, where his fiancée Jutta Leerdam won gold in the 1000-meter speed skating event.
Paul was visibly emotional at the Games when Leerdam secured her Olympic title. Leerdam also won a silver medal in the 500 meters during the same competition.
The physical strain and travel likely compromised the surgical hardware. Medical research shows that early activity after jaw surgery can cause fixation devices to loosen, especially in athletes.
The fight itself was controversial from the start. The bout featured a massive skill and experience gap between Joshua, a two-time former heavyweight world champion, and Paul, who has fought primarily in novelty boxing matches.
During the fight, Paul repeatedly dropped to the canvas and grabbed at Joshua’s legs. Referee Christopher Young warned both fighters in the fourth round, saying “The fans did not pay to see this crap.”
Both fighters reportedly split a purse of $184 million for the Netflix-backed event. Joshua praised Paul after the fight for continuing to get up despite being knocked down multiple times.
“Jake Paul has done really well tonight, I want to give him the props. He got up time and time again,” Joshua said. “It takes a real man to do that.”
Leerdam posted a message of support during Paul’s second hospital visit, describing their relationship as “forever supporting each other.” The couple got engaged in March 2025 after making their relationship public in April 2023.
There is currently no official timeline for when Paul can return to training or competition. Doctors typically require careful follow-up imaging before clearing patients for contact sports after secondary jaw procedures.
