In a highly anticipated and heavily criticized event, former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua secured a knockout victory over YouTube sensation Jake Paul. The fight, streamed globally on Netflix, took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday, 20 December 2025.
A Lucrative But Lopsided Contest
The bout was backed by a staggering purse of $184 million, which was reportedly split between the two fighters. However, it sparked significant concern within the boxing community due to the vast difference in experience and stature. Joshua, a two-time former world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, faced Paul, an internet personality whose boxing career has been built on novelty matches.
Despite the predictions of a quick finish, Joshua, 36, found himself in a scrappy affair. Jake Paul, 28, employed unconventional tactics, often dropping to the canvas and grappling with Joshua's legs. The contest's quality deteriorated to the point where referee Christopher Young admonished both men in the fourth round, stating, "The fans did not pay to see this crap."
The Knockout Blow and Post-Fight Reactions
As the fight progressed, Joshua's superior size, power, and skill began to dominate. The 6ft 6in Briton knocked down the 6ft 1in American twice in the fifth round. The end came decisively in the sixth. Joshua cornered Paul and set him up with a powerful left hand before delivering a crushing right to the chin that sent Paul crashing to the canvas for the full count.
After the fight, Joshua was candid about his performance. "It wasn't the best performance," he admitted. "But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him... It took a bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination." He also praised Paul's resilience, saying, "I want to give him his props — he got up time and time again... It takes a real man to do that."
A bloodied Jake Paul suggested his jaw was broken but remained upbeat. "That was fun. I gave it my all," Paul said. "I just got tired to be honest — like it was so much handling his weight. I think with better cardio I could have kept it up... But he hits really hard."
Looking Ahead: Joshua Targets Tyson Fury
The statistics underscored the one-sided nature of the contest. Joshua landed 48 of 146 punches, while Paul managed only a meagre 16 connects. With this win, Joshua, fighting for the first time in 15 months, has now set his sights on a blockbuster all-British clash.
"We shook off the cobwebs and I can't wait to roll into 2026," Joshua declared. Issuing a direct challenge, he added, "And if Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, let's put on some gloves and fight." This potential mega-fight against fellow former champion Fury is now the major talking point in heavyweight boxing.
The Netflix event, coming just over a year after Paul's much-derided fight with 58-year-old Mike Tyson on the same platform, faced widespread criticism for potentially endangering a novice against an elite professional. While Paul survived longer than many expected, Joshua's ultimate victory reaffirmed the traditional hierarchy of the sport.
