Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul
in 6th round to win heavyweight fight
[December 20, 2025]
MIAMI (AP) — Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the
sixth round of their heavyweight fight on Friday night.
The two-time heavyweight champion displayed why he is one of the
sport’s elite punchers when he dropped the fading Paul twice in the
fifth round.
Sensing the YouTuber was finished, Joshua rocked him with a right
uppercut early in the sixth. The native of England then floored Paul
with a combination to the head.
Although Paul (12-2) reached his feet again, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs)
finally crushed Paul’s upset dream when he dropped him a fourth time
with a right to the head. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out
at 1:31 of the round in front of a capacity crowd of 19,600 at the
Kaseya Center.
“It took a little bit longer than expected but the right hand
finally found its destination," Joshua said. "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 and trying. He
came up against a real fighter tonight.”
With the victory, Joshua now can angle to reclaim the heavyweight
title he lost against Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua also has talked about a
long discussed match with countryman and former champion, Tyson
Fury. However, Fury is currently retired following consecutive
losses to Usyk in 2024.
It was Joshua’s first bout since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in
five rounds in Sept. 2024.
Joshua methodically established pace against Paul from the opening
round as neither fighter engaged early. Midway through the round,
Paul threw an overhand right that Joshua blocked with his glove. In
the closing seconds, Joshua scored with a right to the head near the
ropes.
In the second, Joshua began utilizing his 6-inch reach advantage by
leading with a left jab.
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Jake Paul falls on the canvas after being hit by Anthony Joshua
during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in
Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Paul scored with a short right to the head early in
the fourth. Later in the round, Paul twice fell to the canvas
awkwardly as he again attempted to cut distance during close
exchanges
“I gave it my all," Paul said. "Anthony is a great fighter and I got
my (rear end) kicked but that what this sport is all about. But I’m
going to come back and keep winning.”
Paul weighed 216 pounds and Joshua weighed 243 for the bout.
The 28-year-old Paul, who began his career in Jan. 2020, originally
had targeted an exhibition in Miami with lightweight champion
Gervonta Davis last month. But Davis encountered legal problems that
scrapped the event. Paul quickly pivoted and landed the bout against
Joshua in the same venue.
Celebrities in the crowd included golf champion Rory McIlroy, New
York Mets slugger Juan Soto, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy
and retired NFL receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.
In an undercard bout between retired UFC champions, 50-year-old
Anderson Silva scored a second-round TKO against Tyron Woodley.
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