12/20/25 05:36:00
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12/20 05:34 CST Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul in 6th round to win
heavyweight fight
Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul in 6th round to win heavyweight fight
MIAMI (AP) --- Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their
heavyweight fight on Friday night.
The two-time heavyweight champion displayed why he is one of the sport's elite
punchers when he dropped the fading Paul twice in the fifth round.
Sensing the YouTuber was finished, Joshua rocked him with a right uppercut
early in the sixth. The native of England then floored Paul with a combination
to the head.
Although Paul (12-2) reached his feet again, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) finally
crushed Paul's upset dream when he dropped him a fourth time with a right to
the head. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out at 1:31 of the round in
front of a capacity crowd of 19,600 at the Kaseya Center.
"It took a little bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its
destination," Joshua said. "Jake Paul's done really well tonight. I'm going to
give him his props. He got up time and time again. I give Jake the respect for
trying and trying. He came up against a real fighter tonight."
Paul later reported that his jaw was broken in two spots.
With the victory, Joshua now can angle to reclaim the heavyweight title he lost
against Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua also has talked about a long discussed match
with countryman and former champion, Tyson Fury. However, Fury is currently
retired following consecutive losses to Usyk in 2024.
It was Joshua's first bout since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in five rounds
in Sept. 2024.
Joshua methodically established pace against Paul from the opening round as
neither fighter engaged early. Midway through the round, Paul threw an overhand
right that Joshua blocked with his glove. In the closing seconds, Joshua scored
with a right to the head near the ropes.
In the second, Joshua began utilizing his 6-inch reach advantage by leading
with a left jab.
Paul scored with a short right to the head early in the fourth. Later in the
round, Paul twice fell to the canvas awkwardly as he again attempted to cut
distance during close exchanges
"I gave it my all," Paul said. "Anthony is a great fighter and I got my (rear
end) kicked but that what this sport is all about. But I'm going to come back
and keep winning."
Paul weighed 216 pounds and Joshua weighed 243 for the bout.
The 28-year-old Paul, who began his career in Jan. 2020, originally had
targeted an exhibition in Miami with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis last
month. But Davis encountered legal problems that scrapped the event. Paul
quickly pivoted and landed the bout against Joshua in the same venue.
Celebrities in the crowd included golf champion Rory McIlroy, New York Mets
slugger Juan Soto, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and retired NFL
receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.
In an undercard bout between retired UFC champions, 50-year-old Anderson Silva
scored a second-round TKO against Tyron Woodley.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports and https://www.apnews.com/boxing
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