JAKE PAUL has a huge following but his biggest supporter was unable to attend his demoralising defeat to Anthony Joshua in Miami on Friday night.
Paul, 28, paid a painful price for stepping up against Joshua, 36, suffering a double jaw fracture after being stopped by the two-time heavyweight world champion.
But while millions tuned in to watch the brutal mismatch, one familiar face was missing from ringside.
Paul’s fiancee Jutta Leerdam was forced to watch the Netflix card from home as her partner suffered a sixth round knockout in devastating fashion.
The Dutch speed skating superstar admitted she desperately wanted to be there, but Olympic duty came first.
Posting on TikTok, Leerdam explained: “I wish I could be there… but this week is my Olympic qualification week, so I can’t.”
Leerdam, 26, is a seven-time world champion speed skater, a silver medallist from the 2022 Winter Olympics, and one of the biggest stars in her sport.
She has a huge social media following with 4.8 million Instagram followers – though that’s 24.3 million less than her boyfriend.
Milan will host the 2026 Winter Olympics from the start of February, meaning travel to Miami would have disrupted crucial preparations.
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Instead, she watched on as Paul was floored twice in the fifth and sixth rounds before later confirming he believed his jaw was broken.
Despite the defeat, Leerdam was quick to publicly back her man.
She wrote: “I’m proud of you, baby. I have so much respect for you taking on this challenge and fighting so well against a heavyweight champion. My champion.”
Paul confirmed after the fight that his jaw had been broken in two places, but insisted the injury will not end his boxing ambitions.
He said: “We’ll heal my broken jaw, come back and fight guys in my weight class. I’ll fight for the cruiserweight world title.”
Paul and Leerdam have been together since 2023 and got engaged in May this year.
The Dutch star was ringside last November when Paul stunned fans by defeating boxing legend Mike Tyson.
This time, she could only watch from afar. But with Paul already plotting his comeback, the pair are expected to be reunited at ringside before long.
