Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua made a winning, if unconvincing, return to the ring with a sixth-round knockout of social media star turned boxer Jake Paul in Miami on Saturday 20 December 2025.
A Frustrating Start for the Former Champion
Fighting for the first time in 15 months since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, Joshua, 36, was expected to dispatch his inexperienced opponent quickly. However, the bout at the Kaseya Center proved a tedious affair for long periods. Paul, adopting an evasive strategy, frustrated Joshua in the early rounds, moving constantly and offering little offensive threat himself.
The crowd's patience wore thin as Joshua struggled to land cleanly. A bizarre fourth round saw Paul hit the canvas multiple times in what appeared to be slips, prompting referee Christopher Young to admonish both fighters, stating, "the fans didn’t pay to see this crap."
Class Finally Tells in the Later Rounds
The momentum shifted decisively in the fifth round. Joshua's superior power began to tell as a big left hand forced Paul to take a standing count. A swift right-left combination just 30 seconds later produced another count. Displaying heart, Paul managed to survive the round against an opponent nearly two stone heavier.
His resistance was finally broken in the sixth. A sustained barrage from Joshua pinned Paul in a corner, and with the American unable to defend himself, the referee waved off the contest, handing Joshua a knockout victory.
Questions Remain Over Joshua's Future
While the win goes on his record, Joshua's laboured performance against a limited opponent will do little to silence doubts about his ability to reclaim a place at the sport's summit. The victory comes amid reports he is close to agreeing a blockbuster fight against Tyson Fury in Riyadh in 2026, a bout that would demand a far sharper display.
The event's undercard also delivered notable results. Former undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner earned a points win over Canada's Leila Beaudoin. In a remarkable side story, 50-year-old UFC legend Anderson Silva stopped Tyron Woodley in the second round and then announced plans to begin a second career as a police officer.
