Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua made a successful return to the ring on Friday night, stopping YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their high-profile clash at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The bout, streamed live to millions on Netflix, ended with a decisive right hand that finally extinguished Paul’s hopes of a massive upset.
Joshua entered the fight as the overwhelming favorite but faced early frustration as Paul utilized lateral movement and clinching to survive the opening rounds. Despite the slow start, Joshua remained composed, gradually breaking down his opponent before a dominant fifth round saw Paul hit the canvas twice. The end finally came at 1:31 of the sixth round after Joshua dropped Paul for the fourth time with a powerful right cross.
Reflecting on the victory, Joshua admitted it wasn’t his cleanest display. “It wasn’t the best performance. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” he said.
Despite the one-sided nature of the later rounds, Joshua praised Paul’s grit, noting, “Jake Paul’s done really well tonight. I’m going to give him his props. He got up time and time again. I give Jake the respect for trying.”
Paul, who suffered his first career stoppage loss and later revealed he had suffered a broken jaw, acknowledged the gulf in class. “Anthony’s a great fighter and I got my ass kicked, but that’s what this sport is all about,”
Paul stated. For Joshua, the victory serves as a vital reset as he looks toward a massive 2026, where he has already called for a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury.