Anthony Joshua stopped boxing novice Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami. The fight ranked among the most uneven matchups in modern boxing. Paul spent long spells retreating and avoiding exchanges. He depended on movement and caution instead of attack. Joshua showed mounting frustration as the rounds passed.
The former two-time world champion took full control in the fifth round. Joshua cut off the ring and dropped Paul twice. The sequence exposed the clear gap in class, size, and experience.
Paul fell again early in the sixth round. Joshua followed with a clean and crushing right hand. The punch ended a surreal spectacle at the Kaseya Center. Paul failed to rise before the referee completed the count.
Relief rippled through the arena when Paul stood up unaided. He left the ring without medical support.
“It wasn’t my cleanest performance,” Joshua said afterward. “I wanted to trap Jake Paul and hurt him.” He admitted the finish came later than expected. “The right hand finally landed where it mattered,” he said.
The outcome matched overwhelming expectations. The bout reopened debate about safety in crossover boxing. Experience, power, and physicality divided the fighters completely.
Joshua recorded the 29th victory of his professional career from 33 contests. He now turns toward more legitimate opposition. A long-discussed showdown with Tyson Fury remains the priority.
“Fight a real fighter,” Joshua said afterward. “Step in with me if you truly believe it.”
Paul failed to produce the upset he promised beforehand. His confidence dissolved under sustained pressure.
The 28-year-old hit the canvas repeatedly and clung to Joshua’s legs. The two-stone weight difference shaped the contest decisively.
Paul landed a few clean punches. The fight reaching the sixth round reflected poorly on Joshua’s efficiency.
Joshua applies pressure as Paul circles for survival
Joshua walked to the ring first and received mixed reactions. His stern expression reflected full concentration. He treated the contest seriously throughout the build-up.
Paul’s ringwalk drew attention for different reasons. Rapper 6ix9ine accompanied him to the ring. The appearance sparked uneasy reactions among spectators.
Once the opening bell rang, Paul circled endlessly on the outside. Boos followed quickly. Joshua advanced and threw heavy punches. Many shots missed narrowly. Each miss drew gasps from the crowd.
Paul responded with gestures and theatrics. He stuck out his tongue and played to the cameras. Every passing minute felt like a personal victory.
Only 13 months earlier, Paul had faced 58-year-old Mike Tyson. That context shaped expectations throughout the night.
Paul landed a wide right hand in the fourth round. The punch failed to trouble Joshua. He continued marching forward without pause.
More than 300 million Netflix subscribers watched the fight live. Celebrities filled the ringside seats. Rory McIlroy attended after his Sports Personality of the Year triumph. Rick Ross and Timbaland also watched closely.
The fifth round delivered the breakthrough many expected earlier. A right hook clipped Paul and sent him down. A fast combination dropped him again. Paul rose slowly and struggled for breath. He attempted to hide the damage with bravado.
Another heavy right in the sixth round sent Paul sprawling once more. Sections of the crowd urged the referee to intervene.
Many remembered Joshua’s knockout of Francis Ngannou last year. A familiar ending felt inevitable. It arrived with less brutality. The straight right finally landed flush.
Joshua sets sights on Fury as Paul sells belief
This fight never aimed to test Joshua’s elite boxing level. Promoters designed it for spectacle and revenue. Entertainment dictated the night.
“I don’t care about legacy,” Joshua said. “Legacy fades over time.” He framed the bout as part of his profession. “I will keep doing this while I can,” he added.
Joshua leaves Miami with a reported £210m purse share. His team plans another warm-up fight in February. Focus then shifts toward a possible Fury clash in 2026.
Paul accepted defeat without excuses. “I got beat up,” he said afterward. He still spoke confidently about returning.
“I think my jaw is broken,” Paul said. “But I will come back.” He promised to chase a cruiserweight world title.
Love him or loathe him, Paul attracts attention. Few fighters generate similar debate. His promotional strength sold belief. Inside the ring, his limitations stood clear.
