Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Jake Paul In Heavyweight Fight
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua returned to the ring in emphatic fashion, knocking out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their much-anticipated heavyweight bout.
Joshua dropped Paul three times before ending the contest with a crushing right hand midway through the sixth round, sealing victory in front of a global audience watching on Netflix.
The British fighter, fighting for the first time in 14 months, praised Paul’s resilience after the bout, even lifting his opponent’s hand in a show of respect.
“Jake Paul has done really well tonight. I want to give him his props, he got up time and time again. It wasn’t the best performance from me. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found the destination,” Joshua said
Paul, 28, who has built a high-profile boxing career since turning professional in 2020, accepted defeat with humility, describing the fight as the toughest test of his career.
“I’m feeling good, that was fun. I love this sport. I gave it my all. I got my ass beat, but that’s what this sport is about. I’m going to come back and keep on winning,” Paul said.
He added: “I just got tired, to be honest. He did amazing and hits really hard.”
The bout marked Joshua’s return after a long break, as the 36-year-old looked to reassert himself in the heavyweight division. For Paul, it represented his biggest challenge to date against an established former world champion.
Joshua entered the fight with a clear size advantage. At the weigh-in in Miami, he tipped the scales at 243.4lbs, nearly two stone heavier than Paul, who weighed 216lbs.
The contest was only the second time Paul had weighed in above the cruiserweight limit, having previously done so for his bout against Mike Tyson.
Despite Paul’s bravery and early resistance, Joshua’s power eventually told, as the former champion’s right hand brought a decisive end to the contest.
With the victory, Joshua signalled his readiness to resume his push at the top of the heavyweight division, while Paul vowed to continue his boxing journey despite the setback.
No comments