In a dominant display at the Kaseya Center in Miami, former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua delivered a crushing knockout over Jake Paul on Friday, handing Paul the second defeat of his professional career and his first by KO.
The fight saw Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) struggle from the opening bell. Despite entering the bout off a unanimous decision win over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June, Paul was unable to withstand Joshua’s power. He was knocked down four times over six rounds before the referee halted the action, awarding Joshua the decisive victory.
Originally, Paul had been scheduled to face lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a November exhibition at a 195-pound catchweight. That fight was canceled following a civil suit filed against Davis in late October, alleging battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs), who had lost the WBO, IBF, and WBA titles to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 and suffered a rematch loss 11 months later, appeared determined to reclaim his stature in the heavyweight division. After bouncing back with four victories, Joshua’s momentum was briefly halted by Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Friday’s win, however, marked a strong comeback, showcasing his precision, power, and composure in the ring.
Fight analysts noted Joshua’s tactical approach, controlling the pace and exploiting openings in Paul’s defense. While Paul had gained attention for his crossover appeal and streak of six consecutive wins following his split decision loss to Tommy Fury in 2023, he proved no match for Joshua’s experience and punching power.
The bout has reignited discussions about Joshua’s potential path back to a heavyweight title, while Paul may need to reassess his approach if he plans to continue competing at the top level of professional boxing. Fans and pundits alike hailed the bout as an exciting, action-packed contest that lived up to the hype.
