Former heavyweight champion delivered a decisive and emphatic statement on Friday night, stopping social media star-turned-boxer with a brutal sixth-round knockout in Miami in a bout that underscored the gap between elite championship pedigree and crossover boxing spectacle.
The highly anticipated contest, streamed live to a global audience, saw Joshua return to the ring after a 15-month absence and reassert his dominance with a performance that combined patience, power and experience. Paul, who stepped up significantly in weight and competition level, showed early resilience but was ultimately overwhelmed by Joshua’s size, strength and precision.
Paul managed to survive the opening four rounds through movement and evasion in what many observers described as a cautious and largely uneventful start. However, once Joshua found his rhythm, the tide turned decisively. The British heavyweight dropped Paul twice in the fifth round with heavy right hands before delivering the finishing blow in the sixth — a thunderous right that ended the contest and left Paul requiring medical attention amid concerns of a broken jaw.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua acknowledged both the challenge and the moment.
“It took a little bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” Joshua said. “Jake Paul has done really well tonight. I want to give him his props. He got up time and time again. It was difficult in there for him, but he kept trying to find a way.
“It takes a real man to do that,” he added. “But he came up against a real fighter tonight.”
The bout was broadcast live on , reaching the platform’s estimated 300 million subscribers worldwide, further highlighting boxing’s growing intersection with mainstream entertainment and digital audiences.
Paul, who has helped attract a younger and non-traditional audience to boxing through his fights and promotion company Most Valuable Promotions, entered the ring facing his toughest test to date. Despite flashes of courage and determination, he was ultimately unable to cope with Joshua’s elite-level power and ring control.
“I think my jaw is broken,” Paul said moments after the stoppage, spitting blood as he addressed reporters. “It’s definitely broke, but man, that was good. A nice little ass whooping from one of the best to ever do it.
“I’m going to come back,” he added. “I’ll get a world championship belt at some point.”
Criticism of the bout quickly followed, with several fighters and analysts questioning the sporting merit of the matchup. Former UFC bantamweight champion was blunt in his assessment, posting on X: “This is a clown show.”
Others were more forgiving. Former mixed martial artist and podcaster defended the event, writing: “Why are people complaining? You knew what you were gonna get. If you thought anything else, you were in denial.”
The early rounds also drew frustration from viewers as Paul repeatedly dove toward Joshua’s legs and ended up on the canvas without clear scoring intent, a tactic that disrupted the flow of the fight and drew criticism from boxing purists.
Even outside the sporting world, the bout captured attention. US President said he watched the fight while travelling and praised Paul’s effort despite the outcome.
“On the plane I just got to watch the Jake Paul fight, and he did really well, especially as a display of GREAT courage against a very talented and large Anthony Joshua,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Fantastic entertainment, but kudos to Jake for his stamina and ability against a much bigger man.”
Following the victory, Joshua wasted little time in redirecting the spotlight toward a long-awaited showdown with fellow British heavyweight .
“If you’re a real bad man, don’t do all that talking — ‘AJ this, AJ that,’” Joshua said. “Let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists.”
The call-out immediately reignited discussions around one of boxing’s most anticipated potential matchups, with fans and promoters once again debating whether the long-rumoured clash could finally materialise.
For Joshua, the win represents a successful return and a reminder of his standing among the sport’s elite. For Paul, the defeat serves as a sobering lesson about the realities of elite heavyweight boxing, even as his crossover appeal continues to draw massive audiences.
As boxing increasingly blends sport, entertainment and digital reach, Friday night’s contest in Miami reinforced both the opportunities and the limits of that convergence — and reaffirmed that, at the highest level, experience and power still reign supreme.
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