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Miami: Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua showed Jake Paul the difference between showmanship and top-level boxing on Friday night, knocking him out in the sixth round and leaving Paul with a double jaw fracture.
Paul, who started as a YouTuber before becoming a boxer, made it through the early rounds by holding and disrupting the fight. Joshua found his rhythm, knocked Paul down twice in the fifth round, and finished the fight with a powerful right hand in the sixth.
“It took a little longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” Joshua said after his first fight in 15 months. “Jake Paul did well tonight. He kept getting up, kept trying to find a way. It takes courage to do that, but tonight he faced a real fighter.”
Joshua Calls Out Fury
The fight, broadcast live to Netflix’s 300 million subscribers, ended with Joshua focusing on his long-time rival Tyson Fury.
“If you’re a real bad man, stop the talking. ‘AJ this, AJ that.’ Step in the ring and let’s settle it with our fists,” Joshua declared.
Paul’s Painful Lesson
Paul, 28, moved up from cruiserweight but could not handle Joshua’s size, power, and experience. Bloodied and dazed, he admitted at ringside, “I think my jaw is broken… It’s definitely broke, but man, that was good.”
A few hours later, Paul confirmed his injury on social media by posting an X-ray of his broken jaw and joking about fighting Canelo Alvarez in 10 days. “A nice little ass-whooping from one of the best to ever do it,” he wrote. “I’ll be back to win a world championship belt someday.”
Not everyone was impressed. Former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling called the event “a clown show,” and podcaster Josh Thomson pointed out how often Paul dove at Joshua’s legs: “You knew what you were gonna get. If you thought anything else, you were in denial.”
Reactions Beyond the Ring
Even U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, praising Paul’s courage:
“On the plane, I just watched the Jake Paul fight. He showed GREAT courage against a very talented and large Anthony Joshua. Fantastic entertainment. Kudos to Jake for his stamina and ability against a much bigger man!”
The Verdict
Joshua’s strong win put him back in the spotlight in the heavyweight division and set up a possible big fight with Fury. For Paul, the night was a tough lesson that top-level boxing is unforgiving, and confidence alone is not enough against an experienced champion.
