Nigerian-British heavyweight Anthony Joshua on Saturday morning stopped American boxer Jake Paul with a knockout in their heavyweight bout in Miami, United States.
The contest, scheduled for eight three-minute rounds—shorter than a standard heavyweight fight—ended when Joshua floored Paul for the fourth time, sealing his 26th career knockout with a crushing right hand.
Paul, the 28-year-old social media influencer-turned-boxer with seven knockouts, exceeded expectations by lasting into the second half of the fight and showing resilience under sustained pressure.
Joshua, however, took firm control in a chaotic fifth round, twice sending Paul to the canvas, before finishing the contest with a barrage of heavy punches in the sixth.
Reacting after the bout, Joshua admitted the performance was not his sharpest but said the result spoke for itself. “It wasn’t the best performance. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” he said.
He commended Paul’s determination, noting his repeated efforts to rise after being knocked down. “Jake did well tonight. He got up time and time again. It was difficult in there for him, but he kept trying to find a way,” Joshua said.
Joshua added that stepping into the ring demands courage, stressing that Paul deserved respect despite the defeat. He described the fight as a solid return after a 15-month layoff and said he was eager to build momentum into 2026.
The former world champion also threw down a challenge to fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury, urging him to face him next “if you’re a real bad boy.”
Paul, who revealed he suffered a broken jaw during the bout, declined to name his next opponent. He said he would take a break from boxing following his second professional loss.
