Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round to win the heavyweight fight

In a high-profile heavyweight showdown at downtown Miami on Friday, the former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua scored a knockout in the sixth round via the popular YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul. The bout, which was broadcast to an estimated 300 million Netflix subscribers, was originally scheduled as an eight-round heavyweight contest between Paul and Gervonta “Tank” Davis. however, the fight was canceled following a civil lawsuit against Davisand Joshua came on as a substitute.

Joshua, 36, entered the fight as a heavy favorite, bringing with him Olympic gold and championship experience, including wins over Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr., Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin. Weighing in at 216lbs, Paul, 28, was clearly on the smaller side while Joshua weighed in at 243lbs. Paul fought in the heavyweight division for the second time, having previously defeated Mike Tyson, who returned from retirement at the age of 58.

During the early rounds, Paul kept moving, using the ring to stay away from Joshua’s power. Paul tried a defensive strategy early on, connecting sporadically with jabs and right hands while often tying himself up or falling to the canvas to recover from Joshua’s pressure. Joshua kept control of the ring, gradually cutting off space and stalking Paul. Although Paul was able to survive the first four rounds, Joshua was clearly ahead, landing solid jabs and clean body shots.

Round 5 forced a tired Paul to push back after a constant clinch and spill. He managed to land a right hand, but Joshua barely flinched and responded by dropping him twice, first with a body kick and then a 1-2 combination. He managed to survive the rest of the round, but Round 6 was no easier for Paul, who was once again dropped with a right hand from Joshua. Paul got back to his feet, but Joshua kept up the pressure, nailing him to the ropes with a flurry of punches. Joshua backed Paul into the corner and hit him with a right to the chin, sending him down. Paul was unable to beat the count, and referee Christopher Young stopped the fight at 1:31.

The match drew 19,600 spectators, including celebrities such as Rory McIlroy, Juan Soto, Michael Irwin and Brandon Marshall. Both fighters reportedly earned at least $50 million for the contest. Both fighters are expected to earn at least $50 million for the fight. Joshua’s victory follows a 15-month layoff following a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 and positions him for potential high-profile bouts, including a long-discussed clash with Tyson Fury in 2026. For Paul, losing the fight was a setback, but it was also a turning point in his quest to turn pro.