Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Jake Paul With A Dramatic Sixth-Round Finish

The results are now confirmed after Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul finally faced off at the Kaseya Center in Miami on December 19, with Joshua walking away as the winner following a demanding and closely watched contest.

The two fighters shared the ring for six three-minute rounds, with the bout coming to a decisive end when Joshua secured victory. Jake Paul was knocked out after being sent to the canvas multiple times, bringing the fight to a clear conclusion.

The highly anticipated matchup began in an awkward and uneven way, as neither Joshua nor Paul landed many clean punches early on. Paul spent much of the opening exchanges circling the ring, appearing focused on avoiding heavy contact rather than engaging directly.

As the fight moved deeper into later rounds, Joshua’s frustration became more visible and his pressure increased.

The former Olympic champion eventually imposed himself, dropping Paul and reinforcing his standing as a world-class heavyweight who remains a serious force inside the ring.

What Joshua said prior to the fight

Joshua made it clear before the bout that a knockout win over Paul was something he believed boxing fans had been waiting for, and he admitted that the pressure surrounding the fight was something he embraced rather than avoided.

"With [Francis] Ngannou, I remember he beat up Tyson Fury over 10 rounds and somehow Fury got the decision," Joshua said.

"When I fought Ngannou, I knew there was a lot riding on it."

"With this one it feels like I'm being pulled in to save the purists of boxing because people don't like I'm fighting Jake."

"If we look at the people that don't want me to be here, but want me to put an end to 'the Jake Paul show', I understand it and that's why I carry boxing on my back with this fight."

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua both talked a big game Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images for Netflix

What Paul said prior to the fight

The influencer-turned-boxer had no shortage of confidence heading into the matchup, claiming that his impact on the sport over the past decade outweighed that of any other figure in boxing.

"No one has done more for the sport of boxing in the last decade than myself," Paul said.

"So if people cared about boxing they would want me to win."

"But I see the angle they're coming from in the sense he's been doing it all his life."

Before adding: "But I think that I'm more important for boxing so if they cared about the sport they would want me to win."

How much have Joshua and Paul earned from the fight?

The fight between the two drew attention not only for what happened in the ring, but also for the money involved. Ahead of Paul’s announcement that he would face the former Olympic gold medalist, the Daily Mail reported: "Sources tell us that a gargantuan prize pot of around £140m [$184m] has been mooted."

According to the YouTuber-turned-boxer, however, the total purse is even higher. Paul has claimed the fight is worth an eye-watering $267 million, with reports indicating that the sum would be split evenly between both fighters.

"Stop asking me. $267 million," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

That figure would exceed the prize money from both Usyk vs Fury bouts. The first reportedly carried a purse of around $150 million, while the second was said to be worth between $190 million and $195 million. Historically, only two fights have ever generated more money than this.

"Even if the lower figure – the rumoured $184m purse – is true, AJ could bring home $92m," sports accountant Oriana Morrison told The Independent.

"We haven't seen a boxing match with a purse at this level since Mayweather vs Pacquiao in 2015 or even Mayweather vs McGregor in 2017."

"It's higher than any Saudi purse to date."

Jake Paul claimed he's done more than anyone for the world of boxing in the last decade Megan Briggs/Getty Images for Netflix

What promoter Tyson Fury said about the fight if Joshua were to lose

Frank Warren, the long-time promoter of Tyson Fury, issued a clear warning to Joshua before the fight. He suggested that failing to beat Paul would effectively end any talk of a future showdown between Joshua and Fury, a bout many British fans have been anticipating for years.

"Well, if it does, he won't be fighting Tyson Fury, that's for sure," Warren told Sky Sports.

"Jake Paul has had 12 fights. He's never fought at this level, he's never fought at this weight at heavyweight and he's fighting a two-time world champion, former Olympic gold medallist who's still ranked in the top 10 despite his loss that he had against Daniel Dubois, his comprehensive loss against him."

"He should have too much - much, much too much - for Jake Paul and if he can't beat Jake Paul, we shouldn't even be talking about him fighting Tyson Fury."