12/20/2025
Anthony Joshua Stops Jake Paul With Sixth-Round Knockout in Miami
MIAMI — Anthony Joshua delivered a decisive performance Friday night, stopping Jake Paul with a sixth-round knockout at the Kaseya Center in front of a sellout crowd of 19,600.
The former two-time heavyweight champion dropped Paul four times before referee Christopher Young waved off the bout at 1:31 of the sixth round. Joshua’s patience and power ultimately proved overwhelming as the fight progressed.
Joshua controlled the early rounds behind a steady jab, using his reach to dictate distance and pace. Neither fighter committed heavily in the opening round, though Joshua landed a clean right hand late near the ropes. In the second, Joshua continued to establish control, repeatedly beating Paul to the punch.
Paul found brief success in the fourth round, landing a short right hand while attempting to close distance. However, he struggled to maintain balance during exchanges and fell awkwardly to the canvas twice as Joshua’s timing and positioning disrupted his offense.
The fight turned decisively in the fifth round when Joshua dropped Paul twice as fatigue became apparent. Paul showed resilience by beating the count both times, but the momentum had clearly shifted. Early in the sixth, Joshua connected with a sharp right uppercut followed by a combination that sent Paul down again. Paul rose once more, but a final right hand to the head ended the contest moments later.
“It took a little bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” Joshua said after the fight. “Jake Paul did really well tonight. He kept getting up, and I respect him for trying. He stepped in with a real fighter.”
Paul later revealed that he suffered a broken jaw in two places.
The win improves Joshua’s record to 29–4 with 26 knockouts and marks his return following a September 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois. The victory positions Joshua to pursue another run at the heavyweight championship he previously lost to Oleksandr Usyk. Discussion of a long-anticipated bout with Tyson Fury remains uncertain, as Fury is currently retired after consecutive losses to Usyk in 2024.
Paul, now 12–2, entered the bout on short notice after a planned exhibition with Gervonta Davis fell through. Despite flashes of offense and clear toughness, Paul was unable to overcome Joshua’s experience, size, and finishing ability.
“I gave it my all,” Paul said. “Anthony is a great fighter. I got my rear end kicked, but that’s what this sport is about. I’ll be back.”
The bout drew a celebrity-filled audience that included Rory McIlroy, Juan Soto, Dave Portnoy, and former NFL wide receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.
On the undercard, former UFC champions squared off as Anderson Silva, 50, stopped Tyron Woodley by second-round TKO.
