Jake Paul’s most ambitious venture in professional boxing ended not only in a violent defeat but also in growing legal controversy, as the YouTuber-turned-boxer and his promotion company consider legal action following claims that his bout against Anthony Joshua was fixed.
Paul was knocked out in the sixth round by the former heavyweight champion on December 19 at Miami’s Kaseya Center in a Netflix-streamed event promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). The fight marked Paul’s first true test at heavyweight and resulted in his second professional loss and first by stoppage. He was later hospitalized with a broken jaw that required surgery.
Entering the bout with a 12-1 record, Paul had built a lucrative boxing career since turning professional in 2020. Wins over former MMA champions Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley, along with a headline-grabbing victory over Mike Tyson in November 2024, positioned him as a crossover star. Facing Joshua, however, represented a dramatic increase in competition.
Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and former two-time unified heavyweight champion, controlled the fight with composure and experience despite coming off a recent loss to Daniel Dubois. While Paul showed durability and claimed to have won two rounds, Joshua ultimately ended the contest with a decisive knockout.
The controversy erupted in the aftermath, as online critics alleged the fight was deliberately extended to make Paul appear competitive. Viral posts suggested a pre-arranged agreement, accusations that Paul’s camp strongly denies.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said the promotion’s legal team is reviewing potential lawsuits against individuals spreading what he described as false and defamatory claims. While no formal complaint has been filed, the statements indicate that Paul could pursue legal action to protect his reputation and the integrity of the event.
As Joshua’s win reignites discussions of future mega-fights, Paul now faces a different battle—one that may move from the boxing ring to the courtroom.
