Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua delivered a commanding display on Saturday morning, stopping Jake Paul with a sixth-round knockout in their much-talked-about bout in Miami.
Paul, who has transitioned from YouTube fame to professional boxing, showed resilience by surviving the early rounds and briefly raising hopes of a competitive contest.
However, Joshua’s power, experience and ring control eventually told.
The British boxer dominated the later stages, flooring Paul twice in a dramatic fifth round.
The damage proved decisive, as Joshua pressed forward in the sixth round with a relentless barrage of punches that left Paul defenceless, forcing the referee to end the fight.
Speaking after the bout, Joshua wasted no time turning his attention to long-time rival Tyson Fury, challenging him publicly.
“Put down your Twitter fingers, put on some gloves and come and fight me,” Joshua said.
Paul later disclosed that he suffered a broken jaw during the contest. He declined to name his next opponent, instead announcing plans to take a break from boxing following the defeat, which represents the second loss of his professional career.
Despite the setback, Paul remains ranked No. 14 cruiserweight by the WBA and has recorded notable wins in recent years, including victories over former world champions.
He famously defeated Mike Tyson, aged 58, in November 2024 during Netflix’s boxing debut, and outpointed Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. earlier this year.