Anthony Joshua made a decisive return to the professional ring with a sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a blockbuster fight streamed live on Netflix.
The former heavyweight champion entered the bout as a heavy favourite, with anything short of a knockout widely viewed as one of the biggest potential upsets in modern boxing. Although Paul arrived with an impressive-looking record of 12 wins from 13 fights, including seven knockouts, much of his success had come against ageing opponents or fighters crossing over from MMA. His only outing against an established professional boxer had ended in defeat.
From the outset, Joshua’s superior pedigree and experience were expected to tell at Miami’s Kaseya Center. That belief was echoed by his promoter, Eddie Hearn, who had dismissed Paul in the build-up as “petrified” and “deluded,” framing the contest as a strategic move to raise Joshua’s profile in the U.S. while securing a lucrative payday. The objective, Hearn said, was straightforward: end the fight early and move on. While Joshua did deliver the stoppage, it did not come as quickly as some had predicted.
Paul’s movement and resilience caused moments of frustration, but Joshua remained composed, sticking to his game plan and steadily wearing his opponent down. By the sixth round, the pressure proved too much, and Joshua closed the show with an emphatic knockout.
Before the fight, Joshua had confidently stated there was “zero chance” the bout would go the distance. Although he may have hoped for an earlier finish, the manner of the stoppage left no doubt about the outcome. Paul, who had spoken boldly about springing a shock and even chasing a world title opportunity, was ultimately outmatched as the rounds progressed.
There were questions surrounding Joshua’s sharpness heading into the contest, as this marked his first appearance in over a year following the loss of his heavyweight title to Daniel Dubois. Any concerns were quickly eased as the Watford-born fighter displayed control, power, and intent throughout.
