Anthony Joshua secured a decisive victory over Jake Paul in their highly anticipated heavyweight fight on Friday night, knocking out the YouTuber in the sixth round. The bout, held at the Kaseya Center in front of a capacity crowd of 19,600, showcased Joshua’s elite punching ability as he dropped Paul twice in the fifth round.
Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion, utilized his 6-inch reach advantage to establish pace from the opening round. Paul, who began his career in January 2020, scored with a short right to the head in the fourth round but struggled to maintain distance during close exchanges. The 28-year-old Paul twice fell to the canvas awkwardly in the fourth round, foreshadowing the eventual outcome.
In the sixth round, Joshua landed a right uppercut and a combination to the head, ultimately dropping Paul for the third time. Although Paul reached his feet again, Joshua delivered a crushing right to the head, resulting in Paul’s fourth and final knockdown. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out at 1:31 of the round, securing Joshua’s 29th win and 26th knockout.
Joshua praised Paul’s resilience, stating, “It took a little bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination. Jake Paul’s done really well tonight. I’m going to give him his props. He got up time and time again.” Paul reported a broken jaw in two spots following the fight.
The victory marks Joshua’s first bout since his loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Joshua can now pursue a rematch for the heavyweight title he lost to Oleksandr Usyk. A potential match with countryman and former champion Tyson Fury has also been discussed, although Fury is currently retired.
The event featured a notable undercard bout between retired UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, with Silva securing a second-round TKO. Celebrities in attendance included golf champion Rory McIlroy, New York Mets slugger Juan Soto, and retired NFL receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall. With this win, Joshua reinforces his position as a top contender in the heavyweight division, setting the stage for his next move in the pursuit of a championship title.