Joshua Knocks Out Jake Paul In Sixth Round Of Netflix-Backed Heavyweight Bout
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their non-title heavyweight bout at Miami's Kaseya Center on Friday, bringing a late end to a controversial, Netflix-backed event.
Joshua, a two-time world champion fighting for the first time in 15 months, took several rounds to assert his dominance against the far less experienced American but increasingly imposed his size and power as the fight progressed.
The mismatch drew criticism across the sport, with the bout reportedly generating a combined purse of about $184 million. The contest descended into awkward moments, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling, prompting referee Christopher Young to issue a stern warning in the fourth round.
After flooring Paul twice in the fifth, Joshua finished the fight in the sixth, trapping the 28-year-old in a corner before landing a left hand followed by a crushing right to the chin that sent Paul crashing to the canvas.
“It wasn't the best performance,” Joshua, 36, said after the fight.“The plan was to pin him down and hurt him. It took longer than expected, but the right hand found its destination.”
Joshua praised Paul's durability, saying it“takes a real man” to keep getting back up, while Paul said he believed his jaw had been broken but described the bout as“fun,” adding that Joshua was“one of the best to ever do it.”
The bout drew criticism from boxing circles, with British media calling it one of the sport's most one-sided matchups and warning of boxing's growing commercialisation.
Former champion Mike Tyson said Paul showed courage but stepped up too soon, as commentators questioned regulatory standards despite Paul's financial windfall.
The fight was streamed live to Netflix's roughly 300 million subscribers, reviving concerns within boxing following last year's widely criticised bout between Paul and 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Despite failing to deliver the early knockout many expected, Joshua dominated the numbers, landing 48 of 146 punches compared with Paul's 16, underscoring the gulf in class that ultimately decided the contest.
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