Jake Paul has attributed his recent sixth-round knockout defeat to former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua to a critical oversight in his preparation: a lack of altitude training. The American boxer, who sustained a double broken jaw during the brutal Miami bout, described this deficiency as his “biggest mistake,” directly impacting his stamina against the formidable British opponent. Paul’s candid reflections came during an appearance on his brother’s podcast, ‘Impaulsive’, where he detailed the physical and mental toll of the fight.
The highly anticipated contest saw Paul, despite being significantly undersized, demonstrate moments of resilience and even land several clean punches in the initial rounds. However, the momentum shifted decisively as Joshua asserted control. The British heavyweight dropped Paul in the fifth round before delivering a relentless barrage of blows in the sixth, compelling the referee to stop the fight and secure a dominant victory for Joshua.
Paul elaborated on the mental aspect of his fatigue, explaining how Joshua’s sheer size and power began to impose itself. “It was just mental,” he stated, acknowledging the downhill spiral once Joshua’s big shots started landing consistently. He expressed regret over his limited three-week preparation window, wishing for more time to build muscle and enhance his ability to withstand Joshua’s force.
The primary flaw identified by Paul was the absence of altitude training from his camp. He believed this specialized regimen was essential for reaching the “extra level of cardio” required to compete effectively against a fighter of Joshua’s caliber. Despite feeling generally positive about his camp, Paul now recognizes the crucial role altitude could have played in bolstering his endurance.
Further complicating his preparation, Paul’s mother revealed during the podcast that her son had been “very sick” for ten days leading up to the fight. Paul himself confirmed he weighed 200 lbs when the fight was confirmed, necessitating a rapid weight gain to compete closer to Joshua’s division. Despite these challenges and the outcome, he viewed the experience as a valuable learning opportunity.
Paul openly acknowledged Joshua’s superior skill, reflecting on moments where he felt he had “wobbled” the former champion, but noted Joshua’s ability to maintain a high guard. He expressed genuine enjoyment for the sport, emphasizing that boxing does not feel like a job, and has profoundly impacted his life. This sentiment underscores his commitment despite facing a second professional defeat.
Looking ahead, Paul confirmed his intention to continue boxing in 2026, allowing sufficient time for his broken jaw to heal. His immediate plans include a break from training to support his girlfriend, Jutta Leerdam, at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Following this, Leerdam is expected to relocate to Puerto Rico, where Paul bases his training.
Paul remains content with his career trajectory, even after the significant loss. He articulated a broader sense of success, stating, “I’ve already won in every single way in life.” While accepting the “arse whooping” from “one of the best to ever do it,” he maintains that with improved cardio, he could have sustained the fight longer. His ambition now turns towards healing and pursuing a cruiserweight world title, fighting opponents closer to his natural weight class.
