Jake Paul’s mother, Pam Stepnick, has publicly revealed that British boxing heavyweight Anthony Joshua offered her a personal apology following his decisive knockout victory over her son in their highly anticipated Miami bout. The revelation came alongside a sharp rebuke of prominent boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, whom Stepnick criticised for his perceived smugness during the fight. Jake Paul suffered a brutal knockout, sustaining a fractured jaw that necessitated surgical intervention, marking his second professional career defeat.
Speaking on the “Impaulsive” podcast, hosted by her elder son Logan Paul, Stepnick recounted Joshua’s display of sportsmanship. She described how the former world champion navigated through the post-fight crowd specifically to approach her, expressing regret for the outcome. Joshua reportedly told her, “Mum, it’s just a fight game. I’ve been beat up and knocked out, it is what it is. He’s got that heart, he’s a strong guy.”
Stepnick’s commendation for Joshua was starkly contrasted by her fiery condemnation of Eddie Hearn. She expressed a visceral dislike for Hearn’s demeanour during the fight, declaring her desire to “get in that ring and punch Eddie Hearn for instance” due to his “smug face.” Stepnick accused him of “sitting over there smiling like the cat who swallowed the cream” while her son struggled, highlighting her perception of his arrogance.
The high-stakes encounter, which took place last Friday, saw Joshua deliver a powerful performance, ultimately ending Paul’s night with a decisive knockout. Despite Paul’s impressive start in the opening rounds, where he reportedly left Joshua struggling to contain him, the American found himself increasingly on the defensive as the bout progressed. This defeat marked Paul’s second professional loss, following his 2023 defeat to Tommy Fury.
Reflecting on the fight, Jake Paul acknowledged a significant learning experience, expressing disappointment but also respect for Joshua’s prowess. He told reporters, “I wish I had more than like three weeks to put on more muscle so I could really hit him. My biggest mistake was not doing altitude training.” Paul also claimed he had Joshua “wobbled at one point,” but conceded that Joshua’s defensive strategy was superior in this particular contest.
The physical toll on Paul was severe, with doctors confirming his jaw was fractured in two locations, necessitating immediate surgery. Post-operation, Paul described the sensation in his jaw as feeling “like a baseball is in there,” with noticeable swelling persisting on the lower left side of his face. This injury underscores the brutal realities of professional boxing at an elite level.
Adding another layer of controversy to the post-fight narrative, persistent rumours have circulated suggesting the bout was either “fixed” or involved an agreement for Anthony Joshua to intentionally go easy on Paul. Both fighting camps have vehemently rejected these allegations, dismissing them as baseless speculation that undermines the integrity of the sport and the athletes involved.
In response to these pervasive claims, Nakisa Bidarian, a business associate of Jake Paul, confirmed plans to pursue legal action against individuals spreading such unsubstantiated reports. Bidarian highlighted a particular online post, which garnered significant traction, alleging an agreement existed for Joshua not to knock out Paul, an agreement Joshua supposedly disregarded to secure the knockout, foregoing a potential payday.
“Our lawyers are actively pursuing legal action against several individuals, including one who identifies as a lawyer online,” Bidarian stated on the Ariel Helwani show. He detailed the viral post’s claim: “Basically, it alleged an agreement for AJ not to knock out Jake, which AJ supposedly disregarded to secure the knockout, thereby forfeiting a payday.” Bidarian found the claims “astonishing,” asserting that Jake Paul’s career has consistently featured only legitimate professional contests.
Bidarian further expressed his bewilderment at the persistence of these rumours, especially given Anthony Joshua’s pre-fight declarations. Joshua had publicly stated that he would consider it a “failure” and “disappointing” if he did not finish Paul within the first round, or at most, two rounds. This pre-fight stance directly contradicts the notion of any agreement to hold back, according to Paul’s team.
The Miami clash represented a significant step up in competition for Jake Paul, who was contesting only his 14th professional bout since his debut in 2020. In contrast, Anthony Joshua entered the ring with a vastly more experienced record of 32 professional fights, including 28 victories, 25 of which came by way of knockout. This disparity in experience was a key narrative leading up to the fight.
The aftermath of the fight continues to generate considerable discussion across the boxing world, encompassing not only the immediate outcome and injuries but also the broader implications of celebrity boxing and the persistent challenges of maintaining fight integrity in the face of online speculation. The differing reactions from Pam Stepnick highlight the emotional intensity surrounding such high-profile events.
