British heavyweight Anthony Joshua stopped boxing novice Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami. The bout ranked among the most extreme mismatches in modern boxing. Paul spent long stretches moving backward and avoiding exchanges. He relied on footwork instead of confrontation. Joshua grew visibly frustrated by the evasive approach.
The former two-time world champion seized control in the fifth round. Joshua dropped Paul twice after cutting off the ring. The pressure overwhelmed the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
Paul hit the canvas again early in the sixth round. Moments later, Joshua landed a clean right hand. The punch ended a surreal night at the Kaseya Center. Paul failed to beat the count and lost by knockout.
Relief spread through the arena when Paul stood up unaided. He left the ring without assistance.
“It wasn’t a great performance,” Joshua said afterward. “I wanted to trap Jake Paul and hurt him.” He admitted the finish took longer than planned. “The right hand finally found its target,” he added.
The result matched overwhelming predictions. The contest renewed concerns about safety. Experience, size, and power separated the fighters completely.
Joshua claimed the 29th win of his professional career from 33 fights. He now turns toward more legitimate challenges. A long-discussed clash with Tyson Fury remains the focus.
“Come and fight a real fighter,” Joshua said. “Step in with me if you mean it.”
Paul failed to deliver the promised shock. He entered the fight talking up history. Reality quickly caught him.
The 28-year-old fell repeatedly and grabbed Joshua’s legs. The two-stone weight gap proved decisive.
Paul landed a handful of punches. The fight reaching the sixth round reflected poorly on Joshua’s sharpness.
Joshua stays patient before forcing the finish
Joshua walked to the ring first and received mixed reactions. His stern expression underlined his serious intent. He insisted all week on respecting the contest.
Paul’s ringwalk drew attention for different reasons. Rapper 6ix9ine accompanied him. The choice stirred unease among sections of the crowd.
After the opening bell, Paul circled constantly. Early boos followed. Joshua pressed forward and threw heavy shots. Many punches hit air. Each miss drew audible gasps.
Paul answered with theatrics. He stuck out his tongue and played to the cameras. Every surviving minute felt like success.
Only 13 months earlier, Paul had fought 58-year-old Mike Tyson. That context framed expectations throughout the night.
Paul landed a looping right hand in the fourth round. The punch barely affected Joshua. He marched forward without hesitation.
More than 300 million Netflix subscribers watched live. Celebrities filled the front rows. Rory McIlroy attended after his Sports Personality of the Year win. Rick Ross and Timbaland also sat ringside.
The fifth round delivered the expected shift. A right hook clipped Paul and sent him down. A combination dropped him again moments later. Paul rose slowly and breathed heavily. He masked damage with bravado.
Another heavy right in the sixth sent Paul sprawling. Sections of the crowd called for the referee to intervene.
Many recalled Joshua’s brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou last year. A familiar ending approached. It lacked the same savagery. The straight right finally landed clean.
Joshua eyes Fury as Paul clings to ambition
This fight never aimed to test Joshua’s boxing limits. Promoters built it for spectacle and revenue. Entertainment drove the event.
“I don’t care about legacy,” Joshua said. “Legacy fades over time.” He framed the bout as professional work. “I’ll do this as long as I can,” he added.
Joshua leaves Miami with a reported £210m purse share. His team expects another warm-up fight in February. Plans then point toward a potential Fury showdown in 2026.
Paul accepted defeat without excuses. “I got beat up,” he said. He still spoke about the future.
“I think my jaw is broken,” Paul said. “But I’ll come back.” He promised to chase a cruiserweight world title.
Love him or loathe him, Paul draws attention. Few fighters generate similar debate. His promotional power convinced many this fight mattered. Inside the ring, the limits showed clearly.
