Andreas HaleMar 11, 2026, 07:09 PM
CloseAndreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. In Andreas’ free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM’s Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News. He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z’s Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film “Bridges” in 2024.
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Jake Paul is targeting a return to the boxing ring in late 2026 or early 2027 following a second jaw surgery following his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December.
“I got my second surgery recently and the doctor said it will be four, five or six months to even be able to spar to see how the bone is healing,” Paul told a group of reporters at the Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano news conference on Tuesday. “So that puts us maybe late this year or early next year for a fight.”
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Paul (12-2) had his jaw broken in two places by Joshua when he was stopped in the sixth round of their Dec. 19 meeting. He had his first surgery the following day and needed a second surgical procedure in February. The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter is plotting a return but will do so in a weight class that he’s comfortable with after losing at heavyweight to Joshua.
“Definitely will be a cruiserweight,” Paul said. “Joshua’s punches hurt way more than people in my weight class. That’s where I’m best at, for sure, and where I want to continue to climb in the rankings and make some statements.”