Anthony Joshua stopped Jake Paul with a devastating sixth-round knockout in Miami, ending their much-talked-about crossover bout and setting his sights on a future clash with Tyson Fury.
The British-Nigerian, two-time world heavyweight champion was made to work harder than many expected, struggling early on to corner the YouTube star. However, Joshua finally broke through in the sixth round, landing a thunderous right hand that dropped Paul by the ropes and left him with a broken jaw. The referee intervened as Paul staggered back to his feet, bringing the contest to a halt.
Despite the emphatic finish, Joshua admitted afterward that the fight “wasn’t the best performance.” At 36, he had been widely tipped to dispatch his inexperienced opponent far earlier in the scheduled eight-round bout at the Kaseya Center.
Paul surpassed expectations by surviving the opening rounds. He made his usual flamboyant entrance, wearing sunglasses and accompanied by a rap artist, but appeared tense once the bell rang, retreating for much of the first round. He briefly excited the home crowd by landing a lone left hand as Joshua prodded with jabs and searched for distance.
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Joshua increased the pressure in the second round, connecting with a heavy shot that drew a wry smile from Paul before unleashing a sharp combination against the ropes. Still, the former champion—fighting for the first time since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024—found it difficult to land clean power punches.
Paul showed flashes of resistance, sneaking in an uppercut in the third round and catching Joshua with a looping hook in the fourth, more surprising than damaging. A low blow from Joshua later in the round halted Paul’s momentum.
By the fifth, Paul’s resolve began to crumble. A sustained burst from Joshua sent him to the canvas, and although he beat the count, the end was near. One round later, Joshua delivered the decisive blow, sealing victory and turning his attention toward a potential blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury.
