Was Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul boxing match fixed? Eddie Hearn says a broken jaw tells the real story

The fallout from the Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul crossover bout has been almost as loud as the knockout itself. Within hours of the fight, social media filled with claims that the contest was staged, that Joshua “carried” Paul for entertainment, and that influencer boxing had crossed fully into scripted spectacle. But according to Eddie Hearn, the damage suffered by Paul is the clearest rebuttal yet. A jaw broken in two places, he argues, is not something you fake and certainly not something you risk for a storyline.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter, addressed the accusations head-on after a clip of his comments was shared widely by Ariel Helwani. His message was blunt: people dramatically underestimate how serious a broken jaw is in boxing, and how often such injuries have ended careers.

‘Jake Paul may never be able to fight again’

Hearn expressed frustration at what he sees as a casual online attitude to severe injuries. Many fans, he said, assume a fractured jaw can simply be wired together before a fighter returns to action. In reality, he pointed out, there are numerous examples of boxers who never fought again after similar damage.

Paul, who was hospitalised after the bout, suffered fractures in two places in his jaw. Recovery from mandibular fractures typically takes weeks and can involve long-term risks such as nerve damage, loss of sensation, chronic pain and complications that make returning to professional boxing uncertain.

For Hearn, that reality alone undermines the idea of a fix. “He may never be able to fight again,” he said, adding that this aspect has been largely ignored amid the noise of conspiracy claims.

‘We’re not actors here’

Beyond the injury, Hearn rejected any suggestion that the bout followed a script or informal agreement. He dismissed claims that certain rounds were pre-planned or that Joshua was instructed to delay the finish for drama.

According to Hearn, there was no strategy beyond winning as cleanly and quickly as possible. Anthony Joshua wanted to land decisive shots early, but only managed to connect fully in the sixth round. When he did, the result was immediate and damaging.

“There was never any deal, any script,” Hearn said, stressing that neither camp was interested in theatrical boxing. “We’re not actors here.”

The sixth-round knockout

The fight, streamed globally on Netflix on 19 December 2025, ended with Joshua knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round. While some critics have pointed to the timing as evidence of choreography, Hearn framed it as the natural outcome of a dangerous mismatch once Joshua landed cleanly.

He acknowledged that while Joshua’s team wanted a clear victory, no one wanted to see Paul seriously hurt. That, he said, is the inherent risk Paul accepted by stepping into the ring with a former unified heavyweight champion.

A familiar debate in influencer boxing

The controversy highlights a broader tension surrounding influencer boxing. As crossover fights draw massive audiences, every result is scrutinised for authenticity. Supporters argue that visible injuries and hospitalisations show the fights are real. Sceptics counter that commercial incentives inevitably shape what happens in the ring.

In this case, opinion remains divided. Some online commentators continue to allege that Joshua extended the contest for entertainment value. Others argue that a career-threatening injury is evidence enough that the fight was genuine.