By Harshit
MIAMI, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Anthony Joshua delivered exactly what many critics — and legions of Jake Paul detractors — had been waiting to see.
In a one-sided and increasingly punishing heavyweight fight, Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round Friday night at Miami’s Kaseya Center, dropping the YouTuber-turned-boxer four times before the referee finally waved it off.
“It took a little bit longer than expected,” Joshua said in the ring afterward. “But the right hand finally found its destination. The end goal was to pin Jake Paul down and hurt him.”
Joshua did exactly that.
A Beating That Escalated Round by Round
Paul entered the bout predicting the “biggest upset in sports history.” Instead, the 28-year-old suffered the first knockdown — and first knockout — of his professional boxing career.
From the opening bell, Paul attempted to survive by circling the ring, clinching repeatedly, and frustrating Joshua with movement. But as the rounds wore on, the size, power, and experience gap became unavoidable.
By the fifth round, Joshua’s pressure began to break Paul down. Heavy right hands sent Paul to the canvas multiple times, and by the sixth, his legs were gone.
At 1:31 of Round 6, Joshua landed a crushing right hand that sent Paul down for the fourth time. Paul failed to beat the count, ending the fight by knockout.
Paul remained conscious but bloodied, seated on the canvas with visible damage to his jaw.
Paul Admits Injury, Shows Defiance
In a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, Paul acknowledged the punishment he absorbed.
“I think my jaw is broke, by the way,” Paul said. “It’s definitely broke.”
Despite the loss, Paul remained defiant and oddly upbeat.
“Anthony’s a great fighter and I got my ass beat,” he said. “But that’s what this sport is about. I had a blast. I love boxing. I gave it my all.”
Joshua, to his credit, praised Paul’s toughness.
“Now, Jake Paul — he’s done really well tonight,” Joshua said. “I’ll give him his props. He got up time and time again.”
Reality Check for Jake Paul’s Boxing Experiment
Paul entered the fight with a 12–1 record and seven knockouts, but skepticism had followed him throughout his boxing journey. His previous wins came largely against fellow influencers, MMA fighters, retired athletes, and aging boxers.
Against Joshua — a two-time unified heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist — that skepticism turned into reality.
While Paul did land a handful of clean shots, Joshua appeared largely unfazed. Once Joshua found his rhythm and range, the outcome became inevitable.
The loss leaves Paul at a crossroads. Nearly six years into his professional career, he now faces renewed questions about his ceiling in the sport.
Paul said post-fight that he intends to recover and refocus, adding that future bouts would be against fighters closer to his natural weight, with cruiserweight title aspirations still in mind.
Joshua Reasserts His Authority
For Joshua, the fight served as a decisive rebound moment following his 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. Calm, patient, and disciplined, the 36-year-old avoided unnecessary risks early before methodically dismantling his opponent.
“I knew if I stayed composed, the openings would come,” Joshua said. “And when they did, I took them.”
The win reinforces Joshua’s relevance in boxing’s heavyweight conversation — even if the opponent came from an unconventional corner of the sport.
Undercard Highlights
The event also featured notable undercard performances:
- Alycia Baumgardner retained her unified super featherweight world titles with a dominant unanimous decision win over Leila Beaudoin, scoring a knockdown in Round 7.
- Anderson Silva turned back the clock with a second-round TKO of Tyron Woodley, landing a devastating uppercut to end the bout.
What This Fight Ultimately Meant
Joshua vs. Paul was never just a boxing match. It was a referendum on crossover boxing, influencer spectacle, and how far entertainment value can stretch before elite fundamentals take over.
Friday night in Miami provided a clear answer.
Joshua delivered a reminder of boxing reality — and Jake Paul paid the price.