Nigerian-British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua has defeated American boxer Jake Paul in a bout held in Miami, United States on Saturday night.
The fight, set for eight rounds of three minutes each, ended in the sixth when Joshua landed a thunderous right hand that sent Paul crashing to the canvas for the fourth time.
Paul was rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected fractured jaw following his loss to former world heavyweight champion in Miami.
The 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-professional boxer displayed resilience and determination throughout the bout but was ultimately overpowered by Joshua’s superior size and punching strength.
The knockout sealed Joshua’s 26th stoppage victory in his professional career.
Although the contest was shorter than a standard heavyweight bout, Paul, a 28-year-old boxer, surprised many by lasting beyond the early rounds. He showed grit and determination but found it difficult to cope with Joshua’s strength and ring experience.
Joshua tightened his grip on the contest in the fifth round, flooring Paul twice and leaving little doubt about the outcome. The end came in the following round after a sustained assault that forced the referee to halt the fight.
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Reacting after the win, Joshua admitted he had hoped to finish earlier but was satisfied with the outcome. “It wasn’t the best performance. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” he said.
He also commended Paul for his toughness. “Jake did well tonight. He got up time and time again. It takes a man to keep trying in there, and he deserves respect for that,” Joshua added.
The victory marked Joshua’s return to the ring after a 15-month absence, and he said it had boosted his confidence for tougher challenges ahead. He went on to call out fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury, insisting the division needed a major showdown.
Paul, who later disclosed that he suffered a broken jaw during the bout, avoided discussing future plans. The defeat was the second of his professional career, and he said he would take time off to recover before deciding his next move.
Speaking after the fight, Paul revealed concerns that his jaw may have been broken, a claim later confirmed by his promoter, Nakisa Bidarian, who said medical evaluation was required and recovery could take between four and six weeks.
Despite the setback, Paul struck an optimistic tone in his post-fight remarks.
“I feel good. It was fun, and I genuinely love this sport,” he said, while sharing graphic images and videos on social media highlighting the physical toll of the contest.
The former cruiserweight contender stated that he intends to take a brief rest period before resuming his career, with his sights still set on challenging for a cruiserweight world title.
“We’ll heal the jaw, come back stronger and fight opponents in my weight class. Anthony Joshua is a great champion. I lost, but that’s part of boxing. I’ll return and keep pushing forward,” Paul said.
Reflecting on the fight itself, Paul admitted fatigue played a major role in the outcome.
“I got tired trying to manage his size and weight. With better conditioning, I think I could have lasted longer. I gave it everything I had,” he added.
