Anthony Joshua delivered a devastating performance against Jake Paul on Friday night in Miami, stopping the YouTuber-turned-boxer in the sixth round of a heavyweight mismatch. The former twice unified champion scored four knockdowns before referee Chris Young waved off the bout at 1:31 of the sixth, restoring a sense of normalcy to a fight that had sparked widespread debate over safety and sporting integrity.
Fighting at the Kaseya Center in front of a near-capacity crowd and streamed globally on Netflix, Joshua controlled the contest from the opening bell. Paul spent much of the early rounds circling the ring and clinching, drawing boos from the audience. Joshua's patience paid off in the third round when a right hand to the ribs appeared to hurt Paul, the first clear sign of damage.
The fight descended into farce in the fourth as Paul went into full retreat, claiming a low blow that prompted a prolonged stoppage. Despite the delay, Joshua continued to land, dropping Paul twice before the round ended. By the fifth, the contest had become an embarrassment, with Paul flopping and being knocked down repeatedly. Joshua trapped him in the corner and unloaded unanswered shots, but Paul survived to the bell.
The end came quickly in the sixth as Joshua dropped Paul early, then again under sustained pressure. Paul could not beat the count, and the referee stopped the fight. The result was never in doubt, with Joshua's power and pedigree proving too much for the 28-year-old Paul, who entered as a 5-1 underdog.
US President Donald Trump, watching on Air Force One, praised Paul's courage on Truth Social, writing: 'He did really well, especially as a display of GREAT Courage against a very talented and large Anthony Joshua.' Joshua, 36, returned to winning ways after a knockout loss in his previous outing, reaffirming the sport's fundamental laws.
