Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua ended with a sixth-round knockout victory for Joshua on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The fight was stopped at 1:31 of the sixth round after Paul failed to beat the count following multiple knockdowns . Joshua, a two-time unified heavyweight champion, dominated the bout from the middle rounds onward, landing 48 of 146 punches compared to Paul’s 16 of 56 .
Fight Overview and Result
The bout took place on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami and was broadcast globally on Netflix . The fight was sanctioned as an eight-round heavyweight contest, with Joshua weighing in at 243 pounds and Paul at 216 pounds . Joshua entered the ring with a professional record of 28-4 and 25 knockouts, while Paul carried a 12-1 record with seven knockouts .
Official punch statistics from CompuBox revealed a stark disparity in output. Joshua landed 48 of 146 punches thrown for a 33 percent accuracy rate, while Paul landed only 16 of 56 punches for 29 percent accuracy . Joshua scored four total knockdowns across the fifth and sixth rounds, with 31 of his 48 landed punches coming in those final two rounds alone .
The event drew a capacity crowd of 19,600 spectators, including notable figures such as golfer Rory McIlroy and baseball player Juan Soto . The fight was reportedly part of a massive purse, with the Daily Mail reporting a figure of approximately $184 million, though neither fighter confirmed the exact amount .
How the Fight Unfolded
The opening rounds were marked by a lackluster pace that frustrated both the crowd and the referee. Paul employed constant movement and clinching tactics to avoid Joshua’s power, while Joshua struggled to find his range early . Referee Christopher Young issued a warning to both fighters in the fourth round, stating, “The fans did not pay to see this crap” .
The turning point arrived in the fifth round when Joshua finally began landing with regularity. He knocked Paul down twice in the round, signaling that the end was approaching . Paul showed resilience by beating the count both times, but the momentum had shifted decisively in Joshua’s favor.
The finish came in the sixth round when Joshua rocked Paul with a right uppercut and then floored him with a combination to the head. Paul beat the count but was dropped a fourth time with a right hand, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:31 . The knockout punch was a devastating right hand that sent Paul to the canvas in the corner, leaving him visibly in pain .
The Jaw Injury and Immediate Aftermath
Jake Paul suffered a broken jaw in two places during the fight. In the ring immediately afterward, with his mouth bloodied, Paul said, “I think my jaw is broken by the way” . He later posted an X-ray of his damaged jaw on social media with the caption “Double broken jaw” .
Paul required surgery to have two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed . He later confirmed that “everything went smooth” during the procedure but described experiencing “lots of pain and stiffness,” requiring a liquid diet for seven days .
Despite the severity of the injury, Paul attempted to maintain a positive outlook in his post-fight interview. He described the experience as “fun” and stated, “I gave it my all. I had a blast” . He also admitted the physical toll of the fight, saying, “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 and kept on fighting. But he hits really hard” .Quick Bio: Jake Paul
Quick Bio: Anthony Joshua
Post-Fight Reactions
Anthony Joshua was candid about his performance despite securing the victory. “It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua admitted afterward. “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” .
Joshua also offered praise for Paul’s resilience, acknowledging that the fight required more effort than many anticipated. “I want to give him his props – he got up time and time again,” Joshua said. “It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that” . Following the victory, Joshua immediately turned his attention toward a potential mega-fight with Tyson Fury, stating his intention to pursue that matchup in 2026 .
Paul, meanwhile, remained defiant despite the defeat. “I’m gonna come back and get a world championship,” he declared in the ring . However, the loss carried immediate consequences for his standing in the sport. The defeat caused Paul to drop out of the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings .
Long-Term Impact and Paul’s Uncertain Future
In May 2026, Paul revealed that his boxing career was genuinely in jeopardy due to the lingering effects of the jaw injury. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Paul stated, “I’m getting some new scans in a couple of days, of the jaw, to get an update on the healing process. We’ll see what the doctors say. I think I’ll be able to get a more accurate timeframe, or can I even fight again? That is definitely in the realm of possibility” .
When asked directly whether his boxing future was in doubt, Paul responded, “Most definitely. I think it just depends on how the bone heals, and then also there’s a tooth missing – I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get an implant of some sort. I don’t know how much time that’s going to add to things. But we just have to see and figure out what the smartest thing is for me” .
Paul confirmed he was staying in shape and enjoying mitt work but had not yet been cleared to spar, which is a prerequisite for any return to competitive boxing . His partner at Most Valuable Promotions, Nakisa Bidarian, indicated that Paul was eyeing a return to cruiserweight if he does continue fighting . Paul’s professional record now stands at 12-2 with seven knockouts, with his previous opponents having been largely boxers past their prime or former mixed martial artists before the significant step up against Joshua .
Significance and What Comes Next
For Joshua, the victory over Paul served as a successful return to the ring after a 15-month layoff and positioned him for bigger opportunities . The fight with Fury, long considered one of the biggest potential matchups in British boxing history, was finally confirmed for December 11, 2026, at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, set to stream on Netflix . This bout represents the culmination of a rivalry that has spanned over a decade without the two fighters ever meeting in the ring .
For Paul, the fight exposed a fundamental gap between his celebrity-driven boxing career and elite-level competition. His previous victories had come against opponents with limited boxing credentials, and Joshua represented his first genuine test against a world-class heavyweight . Even if Paul recovers fully from his injuries, the physical disparity and skill gap demonstrated in the fight raise questions about whether a return to competitive boxing at the highest level is viable.
The bout also reignited broader debates within the sport about celebrity boxing matches and the risks involved when inexperienced fighters face elite competition. The substantial payday and global Netflix audience underscored the commercial appeal of such events, even as the in-ring action drew criticism from purists and the referee alike . Whether Paul’s career continues or not, the fight stands as a defining moment that demonstrated both the commercial power and the competitive limits of the celebrity boxing phenomenon.What was the result of the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight?
Anthony Joshua won by knockout in the sixth round on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The referee stopped the fight at 1:31 after Paul failed to beat the count following multiple knockdowns . Joshua landed 48 of 146 punches compared to Paul’s 16 of 56 .
What injury did Jake Paul suffer in the fight?
Paul suffered a broken jaw in two places and required surgery to insert titanium plates and remove teeth . He later stated his boxing career was “most definitely” in doubt, awaiting scans to determine if he could fight again .
How much did Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua earn from the fight?
Reports indicated the fighters split a purse of approximately $184 million, though figures as high as $267 million were also cited. Joshua downplayed the numbers, saying it was not the biggest payday of his career .
What did Anthony Joshua say about his objective in the fight?
Joshua claimed he was given a “strict message” to “remove Jake Paul from our beloved sport,” stating the job was “well and truly done” regardless of how many rounds it took . He also admitted it was “not the best performance” but achieved the end goal .
When is Anthony Joshua fighting Tyson Fury?
Joshua and Tyson Fury are scheduled to fight on December 11, 2026, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, streaming on Netflix. It will be their first professional meeting .
