Jake Paul’s professional future hangs in the balance on Tuesday, May 12 2026, as he awaits a battery of critical scans. After having his face badly broken in a high-profile fight against Anthony Joshua at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, the American musician wants a clear picture of his body to be painted and how well he’s healing up.

Though he’s been working on the bags, doing some shadowboxing, and maintaining condition, he has not gotten the all-clear to engage in contact sparring. Per his trainer, WWE executives, and other close contacts, he’s not willing to risk his health to chase hits. Using that as justification, Paul is openly considering retirement as he contemplates the end of his fighting life. The scans of May 12 will be the deciding factor as to whether or not he lives long enough to get his chance at closure.

What Exactly Happened To Jake Paul During The Fight Against Anthony Joshua?

During the heavyweight contest against Anthony Joshua, he experienced a devastating injury that has taken months to recover from. During this blow, a fracture in the jawbone (broken in two places) was sustained, and a tooth was knocked out (requiring a dental implant). During surgery, the jaw was stabilised with titanium plates. Though the concern was how dense the broken bone was to be able to fuse back together. Paul reports that the injury is feeling better as the weeks go by, but the strength of the local area is still in question. This injury has kept him from any form of competition since the start of the year, as the risk of a secondary fracture in this region was too high.

Will Jake Paul Retire From Professional Boxing In 2026?

As of May 2026, Jake Paul has to be prepared for being out of the sport forever. Has openly stated there is “Definitely a word” where this injury, in particular, stops him from fighting at the top level anymore. It’s all going to come down to his next lot of scans, as the jaw needs to be able to take sustained, heavy-handed punches.

He has done fairly well in the ring, but the risks of ignoring your medical team can be life-changing. At least for now, the person in question is being pragmatic and has said he needs to “figure out the smartest thing to do” for his future before beginning another training camp.