In a bleak and blood-flecked affair in Miami, Anthony Joshua delivered a pulverising knockout to Jake Paul, ending their much-hyped bout in the sixth round and immediately calling for a domestic clash with the retired Tyson Fury.
A Brutal Conclusion to a Sorry Spectacle
The fight reached its decisive moment midway through the sixth round. Pinned in a corner and exhausted, Jake Paul could no longer evade Anthony Joshua's power. A devastating right hand from the former world heavyweight champion sent Paul crashing to the canvas, his mouth agape and eyes glazed. The impact was so severe it broke Paul's jaw in two separate places, leaving blood leaking from his mouth as the referee waved off the contest.
It was the fourth time Paul hit the deck during the fight, but this was the first blow from a genuine elite-level boxer that he could not recover from. The bout, held late on Friday night, was widely criticised for its lack of quality, with referee Christopher Young reportedly telling both fighters in the fourth round, "The fans didn't pay to see this crap."
Joshua's Underwhelming Performance and Future Plans
Despite the knockout victory, Anthony Joshua was far from impressive. He appeared tentative and crude for much of the contest, struggling to land cleanly on an opponent with limited boxing fundamentals. Official statistics showed Joshua landed under a third of his punches, missing 98 of the 146 he threw.
After the fight, Joshua admitted, "It wasn't the best performance." He cited a 15-month layoff since being stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024 as a factor, stating he was "shaking off the cobwebs." His victory celebration included a throat-slitting gesture, at odds with his frustrated display in the ring.
In the post-fight press conference, a jovial Joshua shifted focus to the future, issuing a call-out to his long-time domestic rival. He performed a poor imitation of Tyson Fury and demanded a fight, a bout that is now expected to happen next year, though many believe it comes far too late in both men's careers.
The Aftermath and Boxing's New Reality
The aftermath highlighted the surreal nature of modern celebrity boxing. Despite his double jaw fracture, Jake Paul's bravado remained intact. In the early hours of Saturday morning, he posted an X-ray of his injuries on social media with the caption: "Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days." He later stated, "I love this shit and I'm going to come back and keep on winning."
Financially, the spectacle was a huge success, with both men reportedly earning over $50 million for the Miami bout. This ensures more such contests are inevitable, as promoters and fighters chase the lucrative paydays.
Analysts point out that while this circus plays out, the true competitive heart of the heavyweight division lies elsewhere. Oleksandr Usyk remains the undisputed king, having beaten both Joshua and Fury twice, while young British prospect Moses Itauma represents the exciting future. For one night in Miami, however, the narrative was dominated by a broken jaw, a call-out to Fury, and a bleak spectacle that, for all its flaws, the public continues to demand.
