Joshua's right hand stops Jake Paul as fight draws scorn

Anthony Joshua ended Jake Paul’s challenge in Miami with a crushing right hand in the sixth round that fractured Paul’s jaw in two places and left him unable to rise. It was the fourth knockdown for Paul in the bout. Paul’s conditioning broke down as the contest progressed; reduced to slipping to the canvas for breathers, he was left helpless when Joshua landed the finishing blow.

Joshua himself admitted it “wasn’t the best performance”, saying his “end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him” and that “the right hand finally found the destination”. He also referred to a 15-month layoff since his last defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Despite the stoppage, Joshua’s showing drew criticism.

He landed under a third of his punches, missing 98 of the 146 he threw, and at times appeared tentative rather than dominant. Referee Christopher Young summed up the night’s tone mid-fight, warning both men: “The fans didn’t pay to see this crap.” The event was widely cast as another celebrity spectacle, even though both fighters earned more than $50m from the Miami card.

Paul posted an X-ray highlighting the two fractures and joked: “Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days.” Leaving for hospital after the fight he spat blood on the canvas and said: “I think my jaw is broken… A nice little ass‑whipping from one of the best to ever do it.

Key Topics

Sports, United States, Boxing, Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul, Heavyweight, Celebrity Boxing