Jake Paul made Anthony Joshua chase him, but he could not run forever.
It took six rounds, but two-time champion Joshua finally landed the knockout blow in their contest in Miami, handing the YouTuber a second defeat in his foray into boxing.Â
Paul, bleeding from the mouth, told Netflix after the fight that he thought his jaw was broken by the final shot delivered to him by a man who came into the fight with a 13 centimetre height advantage and a 12 kilogram weight advantage.
But he then said he wanted to use the defeat to show he is ready to challenge for cruiserweight world titles.
Although that should be considered a delusional fantasy, the fact that this fight took place at all showed the pulling power that Paul has in the boxing world.
Just getting a two-time former world champion into the ring, one who was still active and in peak shape, showed that Paul had no fear of reputation or the orthodoxy of a sport that demands levels of achievement before title bouts are considered.
And there was nothing orthodox from a boxing perspective about the fight that took place in Miami either.
Paul’s game plan was to run around the ring and make the bigger man chase him — and it worked for a while, with few punches landing from either fighter.
But as Paul tired, his legs deserted him and he resorted to leaping on the floor and tackling Joshua’s legs in an ugly and undignified sham of what boxing is supposed to be.
Jake Paul spent a large portion of the fight trying to tackle Joshua’s legs. (Getty Images: Ed Mulholland)
Fortunately, the officials would not stand for it.
“The fans did not pay to see this crap,” referee Chris Young said after one of the more egregious grabs from Paul at the end of the fourth.
So in the fifth, Paul started to throw some punches, even landing a couple on the head of Joshua.
The problem was, Joshua started to land some shots of his own.
The first percussive blow rocked Paul to the depths of his vivid red and yellow boots and sent him careering back into the ropes.
That precipitated two knock-downs in the fifth round — etching the writing onto the wall for the game Paul, who took several other shots relatively well, getting up each time and even sticking out his tongue at the Briton.
Jake Paul taunted Anthony Joshua right up to the point he had his jaw broken. (Getty Images: Carmen Mandato)
But in the sixth, Joshua really found his range and a stunning right in the corner knocked Paul down for the fifth and final time to seal the win.
“It wasn’t the best performance. It wasn’t the best,” Joshua said in the ring.
“The end goal was to pin Jake Paul down and hurt him. That has been the request leading up, that was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found the destination.”
Joshua was full of credit for Paul, saying he took his shots well.
But he already turned his attention to a fight that will be more fulfilling to boxing fans.
“If Tyson Fury is as serious as he says he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves, and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there, step into there with me next if you’re a really bad boy,” Joshua said, effusive with relief at avoiding the Paul-shaped banana skin in Miami.
On the undercard, Australian fighter Cherneka Johnson retained her IBF, WBC, WBO and WBA bantamweight titles by unanimous decision over Amanda Galle, despite suffering a cut.
Catch up on the action, including three unified women’s world title fights on the undercard, in our live blog.
Key Events
1h ago1 hours agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:57am
2h ago2 hours agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:29am
2h ago2 hours agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:28am
Show all key events
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 5:22am
We’ll wrap things up here
(Getty Images)
Well, it wasn’t a classic.
I don’t think anyone expected it to be.
But nobody got seriously hurt either.
And sometimes that’s all you can hope for.
Thanks very much for being with me this afternoon for a truly bizarre contest.
Jake Paul seems to think he can get a cruiserweight world title shot after that performance.
I guess money talks, but it would only be the money that makes it happen.
He’ll go back to the drawing board and add this to his strange sporting resume, while Anthony Joshua will hopefully, finally, fight Tyson Fury.
We”ll catch you next time but until then, have a good day.
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 5:19am
Joshua’s 26th professional win
It’s the one that will net him his biggest payday.
But you can’t say that he’ll look back too fondly at this you wouldn’t have thought.
It was frustrating. Annoying.
But he got the job done.
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 5:10am
Jake Paul says ‘I think my jaw is broken’
Jake Paul is talking now.
“I feel good. That was fun. I love this sport,” he says.
“I got my arse beat, but that’s what this sport is about.
“Man, I’ve already won in every single way in life.
“This sport has helped me in every single way … I think my jaw is broken, by the way.
“I’m gunna come back and get myself a belt.
“I just got tired to be honest.
“If I had better cardio I could have done better.
“I did my personal best.”
He says he wants the cruiserweight world title.
Cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia, I imagine, just spat out his drink and laughed.
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 5:07am
‘It took a bit longer than expected’: Joshua
Anthony Joshua is speaking in the ring.
“First of all I want to give love to the crowd,” he says.
“It wasn’t the best performance. It wasn’t the best.
“The end goal was pin Jake Paul down and hurt him.
“It took a bit longer than expected.
“I wanna give Jake Paul his props. he did really well tonight.
“It takes a real man to do that. We have to give Jake Paul is respect.
“He came up against a real fighter tonight, who’s had a 15 months lay off.”
He now calls out Tyson Fury, and tells him to out Twitter down and put the gloves on.
Did Paul hurt him?
“I refuse to get hurt. This is boxing. I’m going to get hit,” he says.
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 5:03am
Logan Paul and Anthony Joshua have an argument
Interesting, there’s a bit of a scuffle in the ring there between Logan Paul and AJ.
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:57amJake Paul is knocked out
(Getty Images)
Devastating right in the corner from Joshua.
Paul looked up and was in serious pain there.
He knew he was done.
(Getty Images)
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:56am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, Round 6
Jake Paul is off balance.
He’s struggling now.
Joshua lands another right!
PAUL IS DOWN AGAIN!
Another right hand from Joshua and Paul is struggling now.
He’s asked if he wants to continue and Paul says yes.
PAUL TAKES ANOTHER RIGHT!
AND HE STICKS OUT THE TONGUE AT JOSHUA AGAIN!
HE IS MOCKING THE FORMER CHAMPION!
Joshua is not impressed.
BANG! HEAVY KNOCK OUT!
1h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:54am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, Round 5
The fifth round.
Wow.
Joshua chases.
BANG! JOSHUA WITH A BIG SHOT!
AND PAUL AGAIN TAKES A KNEE!
Absolute rubbish from Paul. He took the shot well but then tried the rugby tackle rubbish.
(Getty Images)
PAUL LANDS A RIGHT!
THEY EXCHANGE!
BANG! PAUL GOES DOWN!
A right from Joshua, a clubbing right and Paul is down.
There was a body shot, a left hook and then a right.
Paul comes back.
JOSHUA KNOCKS HIM DOWN AGAIN!
Paul is just trying to survive here – even more so than he did before.
Joshua is landing shots now!
ANOTHER SHOT FROM JOSHUA IN THE CORNER!
Paul landed a great right in that round but Joshua just shook it off.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:47am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, Round 4
Joshua lands a jab. Paul’s head goes back.
Paul comes in with an overhand right and then tries to tackle Joshua’s legs. The crowd boos.
RIGHT LEFT FOR PAUL!
A jab now lands for Paul!
And then he throws himself at Joshua’s feet. He gets a warning for that – you can’t rugby tackle someone in this sport.
Joshua flashes out the jab.
Joshua traps Paul in the corner and ducks under a right!
And then Paul lands on the ground after throwing himself down.
Paul skips in behind a triple jab.
No, this is pathetic now – Paul throws himself on the floor again at the feet of Joshua.
(Getty Images)
Paul says there is a low blow in there and that’s why he is slow to get up. He has a five minutes to recover from this. I can’t see a low blow. Oh, it was a knee from Joshua as Paul tried to tackle him.
Goodness me. What a farce.
Paul lands a left book.
AND NOW HE THROWS HIMSELF AT THE GROUND AGAIN! AT THE FEET OF JOSHUA!
This is pathetic.
“The fans did not pay to see this crap,” says referee Chris Young.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:43am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, Round 3
Jake Paul leaps in and they come in close.
It’s untidy.
Joshua is chasing Paul.
But he can’t catch him. This will become embarrassing very quickly. He’s looking for the knock out with every punch.
Joshua throws out the jab that is just out of range.
Paul comes in close and lands an upper cut.
Paul lands with a jab that forces the head of Joshua back! And now they clinch!
Paul runs. He’s surviving. It’s clever.
Joshua lands a jab.
(Getty Images)
And then a tap to the ribs.
Joshua misses with the right.
He is missing so much with his punches and this is a really poor reflection of his skills.
Paul is moving so well, constantly shifting the angle.
Paul clinches as Joshua gets close.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:38am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, Round 2
Joshua is being told to keep focused and calm in the corner.
He is puffing a bit. But now he’s still and calm again, listening intently.
Paul comes forward and then runs.
Paul lands a jab low and Joshua misses.
Joshua throws a telegraphed right that just misses.
AND HE MISSES WITH ANOTHER BIG SWINGING RIGHT!
Frustration from Joshua?
Paul sticks out his tongue at the former champ!
Joshua throws a jab now.
Paul comes forward. Joshua throws a jab.
Joshua comes forward and Paul clinches.
Jab from Joshua. Paul runs and ducks.
Paul comes forward and lands a jab to the chest of Joshua!
Joshua is being sloppy here, not closing off the ring.
Jake Paul leaps in and clinches.
Joshua misses a jab.
Jake Paul leaps around to his right and stays away from the right hand.
Joshua comes in and lands a shot to the body.
He lands a shot in the corner as well but Paul survives another round!
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:34am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, Round 1
Oh both men look focused. Anthony Joshua looks steely serious.
Jake Paul raises his hand and they go into centre ring.
Jake Paul is on the run in the 22x22ft ring.
Joshua flashes a jab.
He flashes another one that Paul runs from.
Paul half-heartedly throws a jab out.
Paul throws a couple of jabs.
Joshua with a jab too.
Joshua checks a right hook but misses.
Paul lands a big right! Joshua hasn’t landed anything yet.
Jake Paul tangles with Joshua and they both fall into the ropes.
Paul jabs low a couple of times.
Paul comes in close and he looks good and comfortable.
Paul lands a couple of jabs.
Now Joshua throws the right.
AND LANDS THE RIGHT!
(Getty Images)
Paul stands up to it! He bounced back off the ropes but absorbed it nicely.
That’s the round.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:33am
Anthony Joshua is heavy favourite
Who are you going for and who is expected to win
– Berry
And as such I can’t look past the British fighter. Purely because he is a fighter – and a very, very good one.
But anything can happen in sport.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:29amJake Paul vs Anthony Joshua, tale of the tape
(Getty Images)Jake Paul (USA)
Record: 12-1 (7KOs)
Age: 28
Height: 185cm
Reach: 193cm
Weight: 98kg
Anthony Joshua (GBR)
Record: 28-4 (25KOs)
Age: 36
Height: 198cm
Reach: 208cm
Weight: 110kg
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:28amJake Paul enters the arena
Jake Paul’s career highlights now.
Jake Paul, in a red tracksuit with yellow trim, Hulka Mania forever banded across the chest, yellow sunglasses too.
(Getty Images)
Paul gets boos from the crowd as he’s introduced at the end of the run way, the stars and stripes there for him.
But now comes the support, Jake Paul joining in with his entourage and rapped Tekashi 69 as they sing and dance their way to the ring.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:24amAnthony Joshua comes into the ring first
A video plays of Anthony Joshua’s career highlights.
“If I can break his soul, and break his mentality, then I can break Jake,” he says in the video.
(Getty Images)
Here comes the former champion, walking the ring in a khaki-inspired sleeveless robe.
On his own, his entourage following at distance.
It’s an understated intro for the toughest opponent that jake Paul will likely ever face in a ring.
Looks as focused as you’d expect.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:23am
What are the rules?
Eight, three minute rounds.
10oz gloves.
That’s all you need to know.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:23am
Yeah, that was good
USA won the national anthem comfortably.
– Greig
Spine-tingling stuff from the crowd in Miami.
Incredible atmosphere, it seems.
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:22am
Last word from Jake Paul
(Getty Images)
2h agoSat 20 Dec 2025 at 4:19am
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua is about to happen
OK, we’ve just been shown some footage of the local celebrities in their seats.
Legit boxer Teofimo Lopez is here, so is Shaggy and Timberland from the music world, Major League Baseball star Juan Soto is here too.
But the only two that matter now are the fighters.
And they are about to walk to the ring.
But first, the national anthems.
God Save the King is sung by Skye Bishop, plus a couple of supporters in the stands suggesting some fight fans have made their way Stateside for the holidays.
And now it’s the Star Spangled Banner. performed by Ally Brooke.
Show more postsABC Sport Daily podcast