Anthony Joshua beat Jake Paul in sixth round as circus bout ends in knockout

Anthony Joshua stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round of their heavily criticised crossover fight, eventually bringing an end to a contest that drew loud boos and little technical quality despite its reported £200m billing.

The former two-time heavyweight champion struggled to impose himself early against a mobile but largely unthreatening Paul, who spent long spells circling the ring and avoiding exchanges.

The lack of engagement frustrated the crowd, with boos audible from the opening rounds as neither fighter found rhythm.

Slow burn before Joshua asserts control

Joshua appeared cautious and flat through the first four rounds, landing few clean shots and allowing Paul to dictate distance.

Punch output was minimal, and the size and experience gap failed to translate into dominance as expected.

The momentum finally shifted in the fifth round when Joshua increased his tempo, targeting Paul’s body and landing heavier right hands.

Paul was visibly hurt, bloodied, and knocked down multiple times across the fifth and sixth rounds as the pressure intensified.

Decisive finish and post-fight message

The end came one minute and 36 seconds into the sixth, when a brutal overhand right dropped Paul for the final time.

While the stoppage silenced doubts about the outcome, it did little to elevate the spectacle.

Speaking afterwards, Joshua admitted the performance fell short of his own standards but stressed the objective was always a knockout.

He also used the moment to call out Tyson Fury, signalling his desire for a major bout in 2026.

Context and implications

The fight highlighted Joshua’s continued drawing power but also underlined questions about his current level following last year’s defeat to Daniel Dubois.

Against a novice opponent, the prolonged struggle offered limited reassurance ahead of any elite-level return.

For Paul, the bout clearly showed the ceiling of his boxing experiment when faced with genuine heavyweight power.