The boxing world witnessed a strange spectacle on December 19, 2025. Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua faced YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional bout in Miami. This story of risk, money, and survival ended with Joshua’s sixth-round knockout victory. Therefore, let us break down everything that happened before, during, and after this controversial Netflix event.
The fight at the Kaseya Center saw both men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of $184 million [citation:1]. The bout had triggered alarm across the boxing community due to the gulf in physical size and class between Joshua and Paul. This journey through the event reveals a night that few who watched will soon forget. The chapter of influencer boxing this fight represented pushed the genre to its absolute limit.
How the Fight Unfolded: AJ Survives Early Struggles
Many observers expected a first or second-round demolition from Joshua. The 2012 Olympic gold medallist stood 6ft 6in tall and had reigned as world champion twice. Paul, at 6ft 1in and with only one win over a recognised professional boxer, looked utterly outmatched on paper [citation:1].
However, the opening rounds told a different story. Jake Paul cleverly used his mobility, staying beyond Joshua’s jab range and darting in with occasional shots. He even won the first round on some scorecards [citation:5]. Paul’s game plan clearly involved clinching, grappling, and falling to the canvas whenever Joshua threatened to land cleanly [citation:1].
The tactics frustrated Joshua and even prompted a warning from referee Christopher Young in the fourth round. “The fans did not pay to see this crap,” Young told the fighters [citation:1]. Consequently, the spectacle descended into farce at several moments, with Paul repeatedly dropping to his knees or clinging to Joshua’s legs [citation:5].
The Sixth-Round Knockout: AJ’s Power Tells
As the fight progressed, the size and power differential became insurmountable for Paul. The American tired visibly, unable to keep up the frantic movement that had kept him safe in the early rounds [citation:1]. Joshua’s jab began landing with more regularity, setting up his devastating right hand [citation:5].
The fifth round saw Paul knocked down twice by Joshua’s power shots. Still, the YouTuber showed remarkable heart by answering the count both times [citation:9]. That set the stage for a dramatic conclusion in the sixth round.
Joshua cornered the exhausted Paul and unleashed a barrage. After a crunching left hook, the final blow arrived in the form of a thudding right hand to the chin. Paul crashed to the canvas and could not beat the count [citation:1]. Therefore, the official end came at 1:31 of round six [citation:5].
Paul’s Broken Jaw and Uncertain Future
In the immediate aftermath, a bloodied Paul revealed the true cost of sharing a ring with a former champion. “That was fun. I gave it my all,” Paul said afterward. “I think my jaw is broken, by the way. But Anthony’s one of the best to ever do it” [citation:1].
He later confirmed the injury on social media, posting an image of a radiograph showing a “double broken jaw” [citation:1]. However, subsequent reports have suggested the situation is even more severe. In May 2026, Paul revealed that doctors may advise him to never fight again due to complications from the fracture [citation:3].
The American explained that specialists need to perform new scans to see how the bone is healing. He has also lost a tooth due to the impact from Joshua, requiring a future implant [citation:3]. Consequently, his boxing career, which began as a social media stunt, could be over for good.
The Numbers: Punches Thrown and Money Earned
The final punch statistics underlined Joshua’s total control. The Briton landed 48 of 146 punches thrown, a respectable 33% success rate. Paul, in stark contrast, managed to land just 16 punches throughout the entire eight-round fight [citation:1].
Despite his struggles, Paul’s ability to survive into the later rounds impressed even his detractors. The fight reportedly generated a total purse of $184 million, split between the two men [citation:1]. Even with a career-altering injury, Paul walked away with a financial windfall that will set up his family for life. Therefore, one could argue he won the business side of the event regardless of the sporting outcome.
The Call-Out and Negotiations
The fight’s origins were as bizarre as its outcome. Jake Paul began calling out Anthony Joshua on his podcast, making disparaging remarks about the former champion’s skills. “He doesn’t have a chin, has no skill and he’s stiff,” Paul boasted [citation:4].
Joshua responded not with words, but with a social media post showing a phone call between the pair. The caption simply read “2026” accompanied by a shushing face emoji [citation:2]. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, later confirmed that Joshua would take the fight for the staggering payday on offer [citation:10].
Hearn also issued a stark warning to Paul before the bout. “That’s dangerous. That’s no joke, you’re not fighting a 60-year-old man, you’re fighting a heavyweight in his prime, that could actually remove your head from your neck and shoulders” [citation:4]. Those words proved eerily prescient given Paul’s subsequent injuries.
The Aftermath: Rivalry with Francis Ngannou
Even after the fight, the drama continued. Paul has since become embroiled in a bitter war of words with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Ngannou, who was also knocked out by Joshua, mocked Paul’s tactics during their showdown [citation:8].
“Did you stand toe to toe with him? I just saw him chasing you. I didn’t know that was a fight,” Ngannou taunted Paul in a backstage exchange [citation:8]. Paul fired back, claiming that hitting and not getting hit is simply “the first rule of boxing.”
This public feud has kept Paul’s name in the headlines, even as his medical future remains deeply uncertain. A fight with Ngannou would be a massive spectacle, but right now, Paul’s priority is simply healing from the damage inflicted by Joshua [citation:3].
What’s Next for Anthony Joshua?
For Joshua, the fight served as a confidence-boosting victory following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. “It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua, 36, admitted afterwards. “But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him. That was the request leading up, and that was on my mind” [citation:1].
The Briton is now turning his attention towards a money-spinning bout against compatriot and fellow former world champion Tyson Fury. “We shook off the cobwebs and I can’t wait to roll into 2026,” Joshua said. “And if Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, let’s put on some gloves and fight” [citation:1].
A clash with Fury has been discussed for years but has never materialised. After earning a reported £70 million for the Paul bout, Joshua can now afford to pursue legacy fights rather than just financial windfalls [citation:10].
FAQs
Who won the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight?
Anthony Joshua won the fight by knockout in the sixth round. The official stoppage came at 1:31 of round six. Joshua knocked Paul down multiple times before the referee finally waved the fight off.
When and where did the fight take place?
The fight took place on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The event was streamed exclusively on Netflix. It consisted of eight three-minute rounds with both fighters wearing 10oz gloves.
How much money did Jake Paul make from the fight?
Both fighters shared a total purse of approximately $184 million. Anthony Joshua reportedly earned around £70 million for the bout. Paul’s exact earnings have not been confirmed, but he almost certainly secured tens of millions of dollars.
Is Jake Paul’s boxing career over?
It remains uncertain. Paul suffered a double broken jaw during the fight with Joshua. In May 2026, he revealed that doctors may advise him to never fight again due to complications from the fracture. His future depends on upcoming medical scans and the healing process.
What did the referee say during the fight?
Referee Christopher Young lost patience with Paul’s constant clinching and falling to the canvas. In the fourth round, he famously warned both fighters: “The fans did not pay to see this crap.” The warning temporarily improved the action but did not change Paul’s overall survival strategy.
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