Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Jake Paul in Round 6, Reasserts Heavyweight Order

Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua delivered a decisive reminder of boxing’s unforgiving pecking order, knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight bout in Miami.

The crossover contest, held at the Kaseya Center, was billed as a spectacle but ultimately highlighted the gulf between elite championship pedigree and crossover ambition. Joshua controlled the fight from the outset, displaying patience and ring awareness as Paul attempted to survive through movement, clinches and limited engagement.

Paul managed to avoid serious damage in the early rounds, circling away and frustrating both Joshua and sections of the crowd. Joshua, however, remained composed, gradually cutting off the ring and increasing pressure as the fight progressed.

The momentum shifted decisively in the fifth round. Forced into exchanges, Paul briefly connected with a right hand, but Joshua responded emphatically. A powerful body shot sent Paul to the canvas, followed by a clean one-two that floored him again before the bell, leaving him visibly shaken.

The finish came early in the sixth round. Joshua dropped Paul with a heavy right hand and followed up swiftly, prompting the referee to stop the contest at the 1:31 mark. The stoppage marked Paul’s first knockout loss and his second defeat as a professional.

Following the victory, Joshua wasted little time in outlining his ambitions, calling out longtime rival Tyson Fury and signalling his desire to re-enter the heavyweight title conversation.

Paul later revealed that he believed he had suffered a broken jaw during the fight and indicated he would take time away from the ring. The defeat snapped a six-fight winning streak that followed his loss to Tommy Fury in 2023.

For Joshua, the win represents another step in his rebuilding phase after recent setbacks, including defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. The performance reinforced his status as a proven heavyweight operator and underlined the stark difference between elite boxing experience and crossover hype.