Anthony Joshua secured a decisive victory over Jake Paul in their highly anticipated heavyweight bout on Friday night, knocking out the YouTuber in the sixth round. The fight took place at the Kaseya Center before a capacity crowd of 19,600, and showcased Joshua’s elite punching ability as he dropped Paul twice in the fifth round.
A two‑time heavyweight champion, Joshua used his six‑inch reach advantage to set the pace from the opening bell. Paul, who began his professional career in January 2020, landed a short right to the head in the fourth round but struggled to maintain distance during close exchanges. The 28‑year‑old fell awkwardly to the canvas twice in that round, foreshadowing the eventual outcome.
In the sixth round, Joshua landed a right uppercut followed by a combination to the head, sending Paul to the canvas for the third time. Although Paul rose again, Joshua delivered a crushing right hand that produced a fourth and final knockdown. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out at 1:31 of the round, giving Joshua his 29th win and 26th knockout.
After the fight, Joshua praised Paul’s resilience, saying, “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 bout.
The victory marks Joshua’s first fight since his loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 and positions him to pursue a rematch for the heavyweight title he lost to Oleksandr Usyk. A potential matchup 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 status as a top contender in the heavyweight division, setting the stage for his next move in the pursuit of a championship title.
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