Former world champion, Anthony Joshua overwhelms Jake Paul, YouTuber-turned-boxer in Miami, reviving title ambitions after a decisive knockout before a packed arena.
Anthony Joshua delivered a decisive reminder of his power and pedigree on the night o Friday night, knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight bout at Miami’s Kaseya Center.
Fighting before a sellout crowd of 19,600, the former two-time world champion systematically broke down Paul before ending the contest at 1:31 of the sixth round. The result halted Paul’s bid for a career-defining upset and reopened the door for Joshua’s return to the top tier of heavyweight boxing.
Joshua, fighting for the first time since a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, controlled the pace from the outset. The British boxer relied on experience, reach, and timing, forcing Paul to take risks as the rounds progressed.
The turning point came in the fifth round, when Joshua dropped Paul twice with clean, powerful shots. Sensing his opponent was weakening, Joshua pressed forward early in the sixth, landing a sharp right uppercut followed by a punishing combination to the head that sent Paul to the canvas again.
Paul managed to rise, but the reprieve was brief. Joshua closed the distance and floored him a fourth time with a right hand, prompting referee Christopher Young to stop the fight after a full count.
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Joshua improved his professional record to 29 wins and four losses, with 26 knockouts. Paul fell to 12-2 in a career that has drawn both attention and skepticism since he turned professional in 2020.
The fight was contested at heavyweight, with Paul weighing 216 pounds and Joshua 243. While Paul showed early composure and landed occasional shots, including a short right hand in the fourth round, he struggled to cope with Joshua’s reach and ring control.
Joshua gradually increased his output, using a steady jab to keep Paul at range and limit exchanges. By the middle rounds, the gap in experience and durability became increasingly clear.
The win allows Joshua to refocus on his long-term goal of reclaiming a heavyweight title. He has also discussed a potential all-British showdown with former champion Tyson Fury, though Fury remains retired following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
The bout drew a high-profile audience, including golfer Rory McIlroy, New York Mets star Juan Soto, media entrepreneur Dave Portnoy, and former NFL players Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.
In the co-main event, former UFC champion Anderson Silva, 50, stopped Tyron Woodley with a second-round technical knockout, adding to the spectacle of a night that blended celebrity appeal with elite-level boxing power.