Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, is eyeing a return to the boxing ring in 2026 after suffering a career-threatening injury. Paul’s last fight was against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in December, where he sustained a broken jaw. Despite the setback, Paul’s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, remains optimistic about Paul’s return.

Recovery and Future Plans

Bidarian shared that Paul received a positive progress report from his specialists last Wednesday. The plan is for Paul to resume sparring in two months, which will be a critical test of his recovery. “That’s when they feel like that’s the point to get back into sparring, not training, but sparring,” Bidarian explained. The response of Paul’s jaw to sparring will determine the feasibility of his 2026 return.

Paul himself acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his boxing future, noting that the healing of his jaw and the need for a dental implant could impact his timeline. “I think it just depends on how the bone heals, and then also there’s a tooth missing that I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get an implant of some sort,” Paul mentioned in a conversation with Ariel Helwani.

No Regrets

Despite the injury, Paul and his promoter have no regrets about the match with Joshua. Bidarian emphasized that Paul created a significant moment in the sport by challenging one of the most dominant heavyweights of the last decade. Paul managed to last longer in the ring than 18 of Joshua’s previous opponents and even landed some shots.

Paul’s current record stands at 12-2, including a notable victory against Mike Tyson in November 2024. As he continues his recovery, fans and the boxing community await his potential return to the ring.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.