Anthony Joshua Overpowers Jake Paul, Scores Sixth-Round KO

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul by knockout in the sixth round of their controversial non-title bout at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday.

The Netflix-backed contest, which reportedly earned both fighters a combined purse of about $184 million, had drawn widespread criticism ahead of the fight due to the clear difference in experience, size, and pedigree between Joshua and Paul. Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist, entered the bout as a heavy favourite against Paul, whose boxing career has largely been built on novelty fights.

Despite expectations of an early stoppage, the fight proved awkward and slow in the early rounds. Paul repeatedly dropped to the canvas and resorted to clinching and grabbing Joshua’s legs, drawing frustration from fans and officials. At one point, referee Christopher Young openly warned both fighters during the fourth round as the contest descended into disarray.

As the fight progressed, Joshua’s superior strength and conditioning began to show. He knocked Paul down twice in the fifth round before ending the contest in the sixth. Joshua backed the American into a corner, landed a heavy left hand, and followed up with a decisive right to the chin that sent Paul crashing to the canvas, prompting the referee to stop the fight.

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Joshua later admitted the performance was not his sharpest but said his focus was on getting the job done. He also praised Paul for showing resilience and lasting longer than many had expected.

Paul, who appeared bloodied after the knockout, claimed he may have suffered a broken jaw but expressed satisfaction with his effort, admitting fatigue played a major role in his defeat.

Statistics from the bout reflected Joshua’s dominance, with the British boxer landing 48 punches compared to Paul’s 16. The fight marked Joshua’s first appearance in the ring in 15 months.

Joshua is now expected to turn his attention to a potential high-profile showdown with fellow former world champion Tyson Fury in 2026.