Anthony Joshua marked his return to professional boxing with a sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a highly anticipated bout streamed live on Netflix.
The former heavyweight champion entered the fight as an overwhelming favourite, with any outcome short of a knockout widely expected to rank among the biggest shocks in boxing history. While Paul came into the contest with 12 wins from 13 professional fights, including seven knockouts, most of those victories were against ageing fighters or MMA converts, with his only bout against an established professional boxer ending in defeat.
Joshua’s class and experience proved decisive at the Kaseya Center in Miami. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, had described Paul as “petrified” and “deluded” during the build-up, insisting the fight was designed to boost Joshua’s profile in the United States while delivering one of the biggest paydays of his career. Hearn outlined a simple plan: knock Paul out early and move on. While the knockout did come, it took longer than many had expected.
Joshua was repeatedly tested by Paul’s movement and durability but remained patient, gradually breaking down his opponent before finally ending the contest in the sixth round. The Watford-born boxer had insisted there was “zero chance” the fight would go the distance, and although a quicker finish may have been preferred, the emphatic stoppage ensured there was no room for embarrassment.
Paul, who had confidently predicted a shock victory and even challenged for a world title, was ultimately outclassed as the fight progressed. Concerns over Joshua’s sharpness, given this was his first bout in over a year following the loss of his heavyweight title to Daniel Dubois, were eased as he displayed composure, power, and intent, fulfilling his pre-fight promise to show “no mercy.”
After several tense rounds, Joshua found the opening he needed, sending Paul to the canvas and bringing the bout to a decisive end. The performance, dominant if occasionally frustrating, highlighted the gulf in experience between the two fighters and signaled Joshua’s readiness to return to elite-level competition.
