Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their controversial heavyweight fight in Miami, bringing an end to a high-profile Netflix main event that had divided the boxing world.
The former two-time heavyweight champion scored four knockdowns in total after initially struggling to impose himself against the YouTuber-turned-boxer, who relied on evasive movement and clinching to frustrate Joshua early on.
Joshua Overcomes Early Frustration
Fighting for the first time in 15 months, Joshua appeared rusty in the opening rounds and was repeatedly unable to pin down Paul, whose spoiling tactics slowed the pace and drew boos from sections of the crowd.
However, as the fight wore on, Paul visibly tired. Joshua began finding his range in the fifth round, landing clean power shots that changed the momentum decisively.
Four Knockdowns Before Sixth-Round Stoppage
Paul was dropped multiple times across rounds five and six as Joshuaโs size, power, and experience took over. The referee eventually waved off the contest in the sixth round after the fourth knockdown, ending what many critics had described beforehand as one of the most dangerous mismatches in modern boxing.
The stoppage ensured Joshua avoided a shock upset, though his performance will still prompt debate given the time it took to assert control.
Undercard Highlights
Elsewhere on the card:
- Alycia Baumgardner defended her unified WBA, IBF, and WBO super-featherweight titles with a clear points win over Leila Beaudoin.
- Anderson Silva, aged 50, produced a stunning second-round stoppage of Tyron Woodley, flooring his fellow former UFC champion with a brutal right uppercut.
- Jahmal Harvey continued his professional career with a dominant six-round victory over Kevin Cervantes.
- Cherneka Johnson retained her undisputed bantamweight crown, while Yokasta Valle defended her WBC strawweight title after a hard-fought points win.
What Comes Next
Joshua is expected to return to more traditional heavyweight opposition as he looks to re-establish himself among the divisionโs elite. Paul, meanwhile, suffers the most damaging defeat of his boxing career to date.
More to follow.
