Anthony Joshua overwhelms Jake Paul with a sixth-round knockout in a high-stakes boxing spectacle

20 December 2025

Jake Paul fights Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight bout on Dec. 19, 2025 in Miami, FL. Ed Mulholland/Getty Images for Netflix

In a boxing event that captivated audiences around the world on December 19, 2025, Anthony Joshua delivered a commanding performance to defeat Jake Paul by knockout in the sixth round of their highly anticipated heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The bout, streamed globally on Netflix as part of the growing trend of live sports on streaming platforms, drew record viewership and sparked intense conversation about the evolving landscape of boxing, celebrity influence and competitive integrity. The final blow, a powerful right hand that sent Paul to the canvas and ultimately ended the contest, was as dramatic as it was definitive, cementing Joshua’s victory and underscoring his elite skills as a former two-time unified heavyweight champion.

From the opening bell, the matchup was framed as a confrontation between experience and showmanship. Joshua, a seasoned British heavyweight with championship credentials and deep ring pedigree, entered the fight with a 28-4 record and years of elite competition under his belt. Paul, a 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, came in as a significant underdog whose career had been defined by social-media popularity and crossover appeal rather than traditional boxing accolades. Critics had pointed to the sizeable gulf in weight and experience between the two fighters as a potential issue, with Paul weighing in around 216.6 pounds and Joshua tipping the scales at 243.4 pounds, giving the Englishman a considerable advantage.

The early rounds reflected some of that strategic tension, with Paul showing resilience and attempting to avoid heavy exchanges with the more powerful Joshua. For a period, Paul relied on movement and clinches to evade punishment, a tactic that drew a mixture of boos and admiration from the sell-out crowd of nearly 20,000 fans at the arena. Despite the initial caution from both corners in rounds one through four, Joshua gradually began to assert control, landing increasingly effective shots and forcing Paul into more reactive positions.

By the third round, signs of momentum were visible. Joshua’s body work and combinations began to wear on Paul, demonstrating the gulf in conditioning and refined technique. The turning point came moments before the final rounds, when Joshua scored multiple knockdowns that set the stage for the eventual finish. In round five, Joshua drove Paul to the canvas again with a thudding left hook that visibly shook the underdog, signaling that the bout was tilting decisively in the former heavyweight champion’s favour.

Then, in the sixth round, Joshua unleashed a massive overhand right that put Paul down for good. The referee stepped in at 1 minute, 31 seconds to stop the fight, awarding Joshua the knockout victory and ending Paul’s night in dramatic fashion. The impact of that punch was significant: Paul’s jaw was broken in two places, requiring immediate medical attention and surgery. He was later treated for the injury, which included the installation of titanium plates and the removal of several teeth as part of his recovery process.

The bout’s conclusion represented the first knockout loss of Paul’s professional boxing career and the second loss overall. Despite the one-sided ending, Paul impressed many by lasting into the sixth round against a true heavyweight specialist. After the fight, Paul addressed fans and media, acknowledging the severity of his injury while expressing appreciation for the opportunity to compete on such a massive stage. Though subdued by circumstance, his remarks carried a tone of gratitude and optimism about future prospects once recovered.

Joshua, for his part, offered praise for Paul’s effort and heart in the ring, acknowledging that stepping into a fight of this magnitude takes courage. He also used the platform to call out potential future opponents, including a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury, his fellow British heavyweight rival. The win marked a significant rebound for Joshua, who had been working to re-establish himself among the division’s elite after setbacks earlier in his career.

Outside the ring, the spectacle drew attention not just from boxing fans but from a broader cultural audience, many of whom tuned in because of Paul’s celebrity status and his ability to draw attention that traditional boxing events sometimes struggle to capture. The Netflix broadcast model helped amplify that reach, potentially introducing new viewers to the sport even as purists debated the merits of celebrity bouts versus competitive integrity. Commentary after the fight illuminated a divide in public perception, with some applauding the event’s entertainment value and financial success, and others lamenting what they saw as a mismatch in skill and preparation.

The fight’s financial stakes were as high as its public profile. Reports indicated that the total purse for the event reached substantial figures, reflective of the hybrid appeal of celebrity draw and sporting competition. Celebrity attendance and media coverage only added to the magnitude of the night, solidifying the bout as one of the most watched and talked-about events of the year.

Still, debates about the future of boxing and the role of crossover fighters have intensified in the wake of the event. Analysts and former professionals have weighed in on what Paul’s defeat means for his future in the sport and how promoters and broadcasters might balance spectacle with athletic legitimacy moving forward. Some see the fusion of celebrity culture and traditional athletics as an inevitable evolution that expands the sport’s fanbase, while others caution against diluting competitive standards in pursuit of viewership metrics.

Despite these discussions, Joshua’s victory stands as a reminder of the enduring power of elite boxing skill and preparation. As both fighters recover and reflect on the outcome, the night in Miami will likely be remembered as both a sporting event and a cultural moment that highlights the shifting dynamics of combat sports in the digital age. With talk of potential rematches, future title pursuits and evolving weight class strategies, the implications of the Joshua-Paul fight will extend into 2026 and beyond.