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Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their fight in Miami

Anthony Joshua inflicted a knockout on Jake Paul after enduring frustrating early rounds against the YouTube star in Miami.

Britain's two-time world heavyweight champion struggled to pin down Paul in the early rounds but finally ended the fight with a huge right hand in the sixth round.

Paul, who had found it hard to keep his footing throughout the fight, toppled down by the ropes and the referee waved it off as he rose unsteadily to his feet.

But Joshua admitted afterwards that it "wasn't the best performance", with the 36-year-old widely expected to stop his novice opponent much sooner in the bout, which had been scheduled to go eight rounds at the Kaseya Center.

The YouTube star had made a typically brash entrance, sporting sunglasses as he was joined by a rap artist on his ring walk, but Paul exuded nervous energy when the first bell rung, back peddling for much of the first round.

Paul did land a solitary left hand to the delight of the American crowd as Joshua pushed out probing jabs while attempting to find his range.

Joshua displayed more aggression in the second round, landing a crunching shot that drew a rueful smile from Paul, and then unloaded a swift combination as the YouTuber sought refuge on the ropes.

But Joshua, who had not fought since a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, was struggling to land his power punches and had to withstand a cheeky uppercut from Paul in the third.

A looping hook from Paul caught Joshua by surprise in the fourth, causing fleeting embarrassment rather than pain, but it was Paul who was left wincing after he took a low blow.

Paul's resistance unravelled in the fifth as he wilted to the canvas after a flurry of punches from Joshua and the referee issued a count.

Joshua moved in menacingly and a right hand dropped Paul more heavily, with the bell sounding as Joshua swung in spiteful punches.

But Paul was ruthlessly halted by Joshua in the next round as he toppled to the canvas following another exchange and then, when Paul clambered to his feet, Joshua delivered a fight-ending right hand.

Speaking in the ring afterwards, Joshua told Netflix: "It wasn't the best performance.

"The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down, and hurt him. That has been the request and that was on my mind. Took a bit longer than expected but the right hand found the destination.

"Jake Paul has done really well tonight, I want to give him his props. He got up, time and time again. It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way through.

"You have to give Jake his respect for trying, trying and trying. But he came up against a real fighter tonight that's had a 15-month lay-off."

Paul: I've broken my jaw

Paul insisted he can still succeed at the sport's highest level, despite his defeat, and believes he suffered a broken jaw.

"I'm feeling good, that was fun, I love this sport," he told Netflix.

"Anthony is a great fighter and I got beat but that's what this sport is about.

"I have already won in every way of life. This sport has helped me so much.

"I think my jaw is broken. It's definitely broke but ‌man, that was good.

"I'm going to come back and get a world championship belt at some point.

"I just got tired to be honest. He did amazing and hits really hard".

HeatSeeker:
Joshua has cashed out apparently. Good for him (but honestly, he ought to be ashamed for taking this bout)

Jakumo:
Few spectacles are more pleasing to watch than arrogant, overconfident people discovering that reality is far different from their imaginary world in which they are undisputed king of the universe.

Jake Paul can now humble himself, and learn how to speak again with his broken jaw. He can go back to the profession for which he is truly qualified, which is that of a YouTube content creator and slapstick comedian.

Good job done with alacrity by Tony Joshua. Very amusing to see that Jake Paul thought he was King Kong because he defeated Iron Mike Tyson on points at a time when Iron Mike had long retired from boxing and is in his late fifties.

OneCandleAway:
This is the time to make money. And retire. If not he'll end up like bash ali trying to get a match in his 50s

TrustAbj:
This is a bounce back from AJ

classicfrank4u:
Just as expected...a bit scripted ...Drag the fight a little a bit to keep viewers entertained, on a very good day Joshua knocks out Paul on the first round

Jakumo:
Few spectacles are more pleasing to watch than arrogant, overconfident people discovering that reality is far different from their imaginary world in which they are undisputed king of the universe.

Jake Paul can now humble himself, and learn how to speak again with his broken jaw. He can go back to the profession for which he is truly qualified, which is that of a YouTube content creator and slapstick comedian.

Good job done with alacrity by Tony Joshua. Very amusing to see that Jake Paul thought he was King Kong because he defeated Iron Mike Tyson on points at a time when Iron Mike had long retired from boxing and is in his late fifties.