Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Jake Paul in Sixth Round/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Anthony Joshua delivered a dominant sixth-round knockout against Jake Paul in Miami. The former champion dropped Paul four times to seal the win. Joshua now eyes a return to the heavyweight title picture.
Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul Quick Looks
- Event Date: December 19, 2025
- Location: Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida
- Attendance: 19,600
- Result: Anthony Joshua defeats Jake Paul via sixth-round knockout
- Knockdowns: Paul knocked down four times, twice in round five
- Referee: Christopher Young
- Paul’s Injury: Broken jaw in two places
- Fight Weights: Paul – 216 lbs, Joshua – 243 lbs
- Joshua’s Record: 29 wins (26 KOs), 4 losses
- Paul’s Record: 12 wins, 2 losses
- Undercard Highlight: Anderson Silva defeats Tyron Woodley via second-round TKO
Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Jake Paul in Sixth Round
Deep Look
MIAMI — Anthony Joshua made a powerful statement on Friday night, delivering a sixth-round knockout to Jake Paul in their heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center. The bout, watched by 19,600 fans, ended when referee Christopher Young counted Paul out after a punishing right hand from Joshua.
Joshua, the former unified heavyweight champion, methodically broke down Paul throughout the fight. From the opening round, Joshua used his size and experience to control the ring. After a quiet start, he landed the more meaningful shots, gradually pushing Paul into survival mode.
The momentum shifted decisively in the fifth round. Joshua dropped Paul twice, first with a clean right hand and then with a combination that sent Paul to the mat again. Despite getting up, Paul looked physically diminished heading into the sixth.
Sensing the end was near, Joshua came out aggressively in the sixth round. He landed a heavy right uppercut that staggered Paul, then followed with a combination that floored him again. Paul, showing resilience, stood up once more, but a final right hand from Joshua dropped him for the fourth and final time. Young reached the count of ten at 1:31 of the round, awarding the victory to Joshua.
“It took a little bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” said Joshua after the fight. “Jake Paul’s done really well tonight. I give him respect. He got up time and time again. But he came up against a real fighter tonight.”
Paul later confirmed that he suffered a broken jaw in two places. Despite the injury and loss, he remained upbeat in defeat.
“I gave it my all. Anthony is a great fighter and I got my rear end kicked, but that’s what this sport is about. I’ll come back and keep winning,” Paul said.
The loss drops Paul’s record to 12-2, while Joshua improves to 29-4 with 26 wins coming by knockout.
Joshua now sets his sights on reclaiming his place among the top names in the division. He has spoken about wanting to regain the titles he lost to Oleksandr Usyk. Another possibility is a long-anticipated all-British clash with Tyson Fury, though Fury remains retired following two consecutive defeats to Usyk.
This was Joshua’s first fight since suffering a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. His strong showing against Paul may help rebuild his momentum in the competitive heavyweight scene.
Paul, who entered the fight at 216 pounds compared to Joshua’s 243, originally planned to fight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition last month. That bout was canceled due to legal issues surrounding Davis. Paul quickly shifted his focus and secured the fight with Joshua, a much more experienced and dangerous opponent.
While many in the boxing world questioned the match-up, the event drew significant attention. Celebrities in attendance included golfer Rory McIlroy, MLB star Juan Soto, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, and former NFL wide receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.
The undercard featured a showdown between two retired UFC champions. Anderson Silva, now 50 years old, defeated Tyron Woodley by second-round TKO, giving fans another highlight on the night.
Though Paul has shown growth since his debut in 2020, Friday’s loss reinforced the gap between celebrity fighters and seasoned professionals. Still, his ability to draw large audiences and compete in legitimate bouts ensures he remains a marketable figure in the sport.
Joshua’s victory reasserts his position as a serious contender in the heavyweight division and reignites speculation around his next big challenge.
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