Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Dec 2025
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion and 2012 London Olympics gold medalist Anthony Joshua returned in emphatic fashion Friday night (Saturday in Manila), knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Center in Miami streamed live on Netflix.
The early stages were tactical and cautious. Paul relied heavily on movement, clinching, and what amounted to a run-and-hold strategy, frustrating Joshua’s efforts to land his trademark power shots through the first four rounds. Joshua remained patient, probing with his jab and choosing his moments rather than forcing exchanges.
The fight turned decisively in Round 5 when Paul abandoned his defensive approach and began throwing wide, looping punches in hopes of landing a fight-altering blow. The gamble backfired badly. Joshua’s timing and accuracy took over as he punished Paul with sharp counters and compact combinations, flooring him three times in the round. Though Paul beat each count, his balance was clearly compromised and he appeared badly winded heading back to his corner.
Anthony Joshua delivers the fight ending punch.
The end came swiftly in Round 6. With Paul trapped along the ropes, Joshua delivered a crushing right hand to the jaw, sending Paul to the canvas for the fourth time. Paul struggled to regain his footing and was unable to beat the count, prompting the referee to wave off the contest at 1:31 of the round.
Joshua improved his record to 29-4 (26 KOs), completing a dominant return after a 15-month absence following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. The bout reportedly earned Joshua the largest payday of his career, aided by the event’s global streaming reach and crossover appeal.
Paul fell to 12-2 (7 KOs) and acknowledged after the fight that he may have suffered a broken jaw, likely from the decisive right hand that ended the contest. Despite the defeat, Paul said he plans to rest and recover before continuing his boxing career.
Round-by-Round Highlights
Round 1: Paul circled cautiously, probing with body shots while avoiding extended exchanges. Joshua controlled the distance with his jab in a quiet opening frame.
Round 2: Joshua’s precision became more evident as he landed clean jabs and a left hook that briefly wobbled Paul. Clinches slowed the action, but Joshua dictated the pace.
Round 3: Paul attempted to work inside and smother Joshua, but was repeatedly met with sharp counters. His footwork helped him survive, though offense remained limited.
Round 4: Exchanges increased in the center of the ring. Joshua landed crisp jabs and uppercuts while Paul mixed in clinches and defensive rolls to blunt momentum.
Round 5: The fight swung dramatically. Joshua unleashed heavy combinations, dropping Paul three times. Paul showed grit getting up, but his legs were unsteady.
Round 6: Joshua closed the show with a pinpoint right hand in the corner, scoring a final knockdown that ended the fight.
The victory reaffirmed Joshua’s elite-level power, composure, and experience, while drawing a clear line between a former world champion and a challenger whose ambition finally collided with heavyweight reality.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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