Miami: Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their much-hyped, Netflix-backed fight at the Kaseya Centre.
The two-time world champion eventually asserted his superior size and power to end a contest that struggled to live up to its billing, despite a reported combined purse of $184 million. While many had predicted an early stoppage, Paul managed to survive the opening rounds by staying out of range and repeatedly resorting to clinching as Joshua searched for a decisive opening.
The eight-round bout descended into farce at times, with Paul dropping to the canvas on multiple occasions and grappling with Joshua’s legs. Referee Christopher Young appeared visibly frustrated, warning both fighters in the fourth round. The British fighter knocked Paul down twice in the fifth round before bringing a swift end to proceedings in the sixth.
Backing the 28-year-old into a corner, Joshua landed a heavy left before delivering a crushing right hand to the chin that sent Paul crashing to the canvas for the final time. “It wasn’t the best performance,” said Joshua, 36, after the fight.
Joshua added that, “But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination.” Joshua also praised Paul’s resilience. Joshua remarked that, “I want to give him his props – he got up time and time again. It takes a real man to do that.”
Paul, whose mouth was bloodied in the final exchange, said he believed his jaw had been broken but insisted he was satisfied with his effort. The fight was broadcast live to Netflix’s estimated 300 million subscribers, continuing the streaming giant’s push into crossover boxing events.
The contest had drawn criticism across the sport due to the vast gap in experience and size between the fighters, coming just over a year after Paul’s widely derided bout with 58-year-old Mike Tyson.
Despite the spectacle, Joshua was the more dangerous fighter throughout, landing 48 of 146 punches compared to Paul’s 16. It marked Joshua’s first appearance in the ring in 15 months and reaffirmed the gulf between elite-level boxing and celebrity-driven matchups, even on the sport’s biggest streaming stage.
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