Anthony Joshua has defeated Jake Paul after a dramatic sixth-round knockout in Miami.
The long-anticipated fight took place at the Kaseya Center on December 19, following weeks of intense buildup.
Both fighters talked confidently before the bout, but only one backed it up in the ring.
Joshua secured victory after knocking Paul down multiple times across six three-minute rounds.
The referee eventually stopped the fight after Paul failed to recover from the final knockdown.
How the fight unfolded
The bout began cautiously, with neither fighter landing clean shots in the opening rounds.
Paul focused on movement, circling the ring and avoiding heavy exchanges with the former champion.
Joshua appeared patient at first, waiting for openings rather than forcing the action.
As the fight progressed, Joshua began pressing forward with more intent and aggression.
His frustration showed as he cut off the ring and started landing heavier punches.
By the sixth round, Joshua’s pressure overwhelmed Paul, leading to several knockdowns.
The final sequence ended the fight decisively, reinforcing Joshua’s elite boxing status.
What Joshua said before the fight
Joshua said the bout represented more than just another win on his record.
He claimed fans wanted him to put an end to what he called “the Jake Paul show.”
“With Ngannou, I knew there was a lot riding on it,” Joshua explained before the fight.
“This one feels like I’m being pulled in to save the purists of boxing,” he added.
Joshua said he understood why fans wanted him to knock Paul out.
“That’s why I carry boxing on my back with this fight,” he said.
What Paul said before the fight
Paul made bold claims about his impact on the sport of boxing.
“No one has done more for boxing in the last decade than myself,” he said.
He argued that fans who truly cared about boxing should want him to win.
Paul acknowledged Joshua’s experience but insisted he was more important to the sport.
“If they cared about boxing, they would want me to win,” Paul said.
Fight purse and earnings revealed
The fight generated massive financial interest even before it was announced.
The Daily Mail previously reported a potential prize pot of £140 million, or $184 million.
Paul later claimed the total purse was even higher, posting “$267 million” on X.
Reports suggest the purse will be split evenly between the two fighters.
If accurate, both Joshua and Paul could earn over $130 million each.
Even the lower estimate would see Joshua earn around $92 million.
Sports accountant Oriana Morrison said the purse rivaled boxing’s biggest events.
She compared it to Mayweather vs Pacquiao in 2015 and Mayweather vs McGregor in 2017.
Warnings from Tyson Fury’s promoter
Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren issued a clear warning before the fight.
He said Joshua should forget about facing Fury if he failed to beat Paul.
“If he can’t beat Jake Paul, we shouldn’t be talking about Tyson Fury,” Warren said.
Warren stressed Paul’s lack of experience at heavyweight and elite level.
Joshua’s win now keeps hopes alive for a long-awaited clash with Fury.
For now, Joshua’s dominant victory has silenced critics and ended Paul’s run emphatically.
Featured image credit: Netflix
