Joshua Ends Paul’s Foray Into Elite Boxing With Commanding Sixth-Round Knockout

MIAMI, FL — In a spectacle that underscored the vast chasm between sporting excellence and social media stardom, former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua decisively knocked out YouTube sensation Jake Paul in the sixth round Friday night. The highly monetized, Netflix-streamed event at a sold-out Kaseya Center delivered a predictable result, yet unfolded with a stubborn, at times chaotic, resistance from the novice.

Joshua (29-3, 22 KOs), fighting for the first time since his December 2023 victory over Otto Wallin, methodically dismantled his opponent. The 36-year-old Briton allowed the first few rounds to settle, absorbing Paul’s sporadic, wild hooks while measuring the distance with a stiff jab. By the fourth, the physical disparity became punitive. Joshua’s professional composure contrasted sharply with Paul’s increasingly desperate tactics, which included multiple, obvious drops to the canvas to force breaks—a strategy that earned him a firm warning from referee Christopher Young.

“The plan was to pin him down and hurt him. It took longer than expected, but the right hand found its destination,” a composed Joshua stated in the post-fight ring. He extended a measure of respect to Paul’s grit, noting, “It takes a real man to keep getting up. He’s determined, he’s game.”

The end came swiftly after a dominant fifth round where Joshua sent Paul to the floor twice. In the sixth, he cornered the 28-year-old American, feinted with a left, and unleashed a concussive straight right that connected flush on the jaw. Paul collapsed onto his back, and the referee waved off the contest at 1:28 of the round without a count.

Paul (9-2, 6 KOs), who reportedly earned a career-high purse exceeding $80 million for the bout, was pragmatic in defeat. “I think my jaw is broken, honestly,” he said, managing a smile. “But it was fun. Anthony is one of the best to ever do it.” He confirmed his intention to continue boxing, likely returning to fights against fellow influencers and athletes-turned-boxers.

A Lucrative Mismatch Draws Scorn and Questions

The event, which generated an estimated combined purse of $184 million and was available to Netflix’s roughly 300 million global subscribers, has intensified debate over the sport’s commercial trajectory.

Criticism from the boxing establishment was swift and severe. British broadsheets labeled it “a farce” and “one of the most one-sided major matchups in modern history,” pointing to the CompuBox statistics that laid bare the mismatch: Joshua landed 48 of 146 punches (33%), while Paul connected on a mere 16 of 88 (18%).

“He showed courage, but he stepped up too soon,” commented former champion Mike Tyson, whose own sanctioned fight with Paul last year was widely panned. Analysts questioned the regulatory oversight that permitted a fighter with ten professional bouts, none against a ranked heavyweight, to share a ring with a former Olympic gold medalist and long-reigning world champion.

The Netflix Effect and Boxing’s Crossroads

Netflix, in its second major foray into live boxing, achieved its primary goal: capturing massive global attention. However, the lopsided nature of the fight, following the controversial Tyson-Paul spectacle, revives concerns about prioritizing entertainment value over sporting integrity.

For Joshua, the victory serves as a keep-busy, high-reward affair that maintains his visibility while he awaits a potential shot at the winner of the upcoming Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk rematch. For Paul, the night proved that his marketability can secure him a seat at the table, but his technical limitations prevent him from staying there against the sport’s true elite.

The final image—a stoic Joshua standing over a fallen Paul—may well symbolize a temporary ceiling for the influencer-boxing phenomenon, a vivid reminder that in the brutal economy of the prize ring, legacy and experience often cash the loudest checks.

 

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