British heavyweight Anthony Joshua required six rounds to stop boxing novice Jake Paul in Miami. The fight ranked among the most dramatic mismatches modern boxing has staged. Paul spent long periods avoiding exchanges and prioritising survival over ambition. Joshua showed growing frustration as his opponent circled and refused to trade punches.
The former two-time world champion eventually imposed his authority in the fifth round. Joshua knocked Paul down twice after finally closing distance. The YouTuber-turned-boxer struggled to recover as pressure increased.
Paul fell again early in the sixth round. Joshua then landed a clean and powerful right hand. The punch ended a surreal night at Miami’s Kaseya Center. Paul failed to beat the count as the contest ended abruptly.
Relief swept through the arena once Paul stood up unaided and exited the ring. The bout ended without serious immediate medical intervention.
“It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua said afterward. “The plan was to pin Jake Paul down and hurt him.” He admitted the finish took longer than expected. “The right hand finally landed where it needed to,” he added.
The outcome matched widespread predictions across the boxing world. The event reignited concerns about safety when experience gaps become extreme. Size, power, and pedigree all favored Joshua heavily.
Joshua secured the 29th victory of his professional career in 33 fights. He now expects to pursue a more credible challenge. Attention immediately turned toward a long-discussed clash with Tyson Fury.
“Fight one of the real fighters,” Joshua said, addressing his rival directly. “Step in with me next if you are serious.”
Paul failed to deliver the upset he promised before the event. He struggled throughout against Joshua’s physical advantages. The American repeatedly tumbled to the canvas and grabbed Joshua’s legs. The two-stone weight gap proved decisive.
Paul landed a few clean shots during the fight. The bout lasting into the sixth round reflected poorly on Joshua’s efficiency.
Frustration builds before Joshua lands decisively
Joshua walked to the ring first and drew a mixed reaction inside the 20,000-seat arena. His stern expression reflected his insistence on taking the contest seriously. He promised discipline throughout fight week.
Paul’s ringwalk attracted attention for different reasons. Rapper 6ix9ine accompanied him, drawing murmurs from the crowd. The association added controversy to an already polarising event.
Once the bell rang, Paul circled constantly on the back foot. Boos quickly followed from impatient spectators. Joshua stalked him and threw heavy shots. Many punches cut only air, drawing gasps with every miss.
Paul responded theatrically by sticking out his tongue. He leaned into the spectacle rather than the contest. Each passing minute felt like progress for him.
Only 13 months earlier, Paul had shared a ring with 58-year-old Mike Tyson. That context framed expectations throughout the night.
Paul landed a looping overhand right in the fourth round. The punch barely affected Joshua. The champion walked straight through it.
The event streamed live to more than 300 million Netflix subscribers worldwide. High-profile guests filled the front rows. Rory McIlroy attended after his Sports Personality of the Year win. Rappers Rick Ross and Timbaland also sat ringside.
The fifth round finally delivered the expected shift. A right hook brushed Paul’s shoulder and dropped him. Moments later, a combination sent him down again. Paul rose slowly and breathed heavily. He tried masking damage with bravado.
Another heavy right in the sixth sent Paul sprawling again. Sections of the crowd urged the referee to intervene.
Fans recalled Joshua’s devastating knockout of Francis Ngannou last year. A similar ending felt inevitable. It lacked that brutality, but the decisive right finally landed clean.
Joshua looks to Fury as Paul clings to ambition
This fight never aimed to test Joshua’s boxing limits. Promoters designed it as spectacle and revenue. Entertainment, not legacy, drove the night.
“I don’t care about legacy,” Joshua said. “Legacy fades eventually.” He framed the bout as part of his profession. “This is what I do, and I’ll keep doing it,” he added.
Joshua leaves Miami with a reported £210m purse share. His team now expects another tune-up fight in February. Plans then point toward a potential Fury showdown later in 2026.
Paul admitted defeat without excuses afterward. “I got beat up,” he said candidly. He still insisted on future ambitions.
“I think my jaw is broken,” Paul said. “But I’ll come back.” He claimed he would target a cruiserweight world title.
Love him or hate him, Paul attracts audiences and debate. Few fighters generate comparable attention. His promotional power convinced many this bout might compete. Inside the ring, however, reality proved unforgiving.
