British boxing heavyweight Anthony Joshua delivered a sixth-round knockout victory over American social media sensation Jake Paul in their anticipated clash at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Friday, streamed live worldwide on Netflix.
The eight-round bout saw Joshua, a former two-time world champion who outweighed Paul by nearly two stone, overcome an early resilient performance from the YouTuber-turned-fighter before ending the contest decisively.
Paul, entering the ring with flair including sunglasses and a rap accompaniment, started cautiously in the opening round, dodging Joshua’s jabs and landing a rare left hand that energized the pro-American audience.
Joshua ramped up pressure in the second, connecting with a powerful shot that elicited a grin from Paul, followed by a rapid combo as Paul retreated to the ropes.
The third and fourth rounds featured Paul countering with an uppercut and a surprising hook that momentarily unsettled Joshua, though a low blow left Paul grimacing.
Momentum shifted in the fifth when Joshua’s barrage sent Paul to the canvas for a count, setting up the finish in the sixth with a massive right hand that floored Paul near the ropes; despite rising, Paul could not withstand further assaults, prompting the referee to halt the fight.
Reflecting on the win, Joshua told Netflix: “The goal was to get Jake Paul out and hurt him. Jake Paul has done really well tonight. I want to give him his props, he got up, time and time again. I don’t care about legacy. I’m just doing what I decide to do.”
He acknowledged subpar execution, adding it “wasn’t the best performance,” before challenging rival Tyson Fury: “Don’t do all that talking!”
Paul, suspecting a fractured jaw, remained upbeat in defeat: “I’m feeling good, that was fun, I love this sport. Anthony is a great fighter and I got beat but that’s what this sport is about. I have already won in every way of life. This sport has helped me so much. I think my jaw is broken. It’s definitely broke but man, that was good. I’m going to come back and get a world championship belt at some point. I just got tired to be honest. He did amazing and hits really hard.”
The result boosts Joshua’s prospects for a high-profile matchup with Fury, following his previous setback against Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
