In a stunning display of power, former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua delivered a devastating sixth-round knockout to social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The highly anticipated bout took place on Friday, December 19, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, ending with Paul on the canvas and likely nursing a serious injury.
A Monstrous Right Hand Seals the Victory
The fight's conclusion came in the decisive sixth round when Joshua connected with a monstrous right hand that sent Paul crashing to the floor. The blow was so powerful that it is widely believed to have broken Paul's jaw. According to a report from ESPN, Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bidarian revealed that Paul drove himself to the hospital after the fight for treatment of the suspected fracture.
"We think he broke his jaw. But he's fine. He took a shower, he drove himself to hospital," Bidarian stated during the post-fight news conference. He downplayed the severity, noting such injuries are common in combat sports like boxing and MMA, and estimated a recovery time of four to six weeks.
Fight Breakdown: Evasion and Eventual Demise
Contrary to many expert predictions that the eight-round heavyweight contest, streamed live on Netflix, would end early, Jake Paul showed resilience through movement. As per Yahoo! Sports, Paul employed a strategy of constant evasion in the early rounds, refusing to engage directly while Joshua patiently sought an opening.
The fight dynamics included several key moments:
- Paul was dropped to the canvas three times throughout the match.
- He was seen spitting blood after the final bell.
- In Round 4, both fighters received a warning from the referee following a right uppercut from Joshua.
- Paul often fell to the floor under Joshua's physical pressure.
Joshua gradually took control, eventually cornering Paul against the ropes in the final round. From there, he unleashed the brutal right hand to Paul's chin that prompted the referee to stop the fight.
Post-Fight Reactions and Future Plans
Following his defeat, Jake Paul was candid about his injury and his future in the sport. "I think my jaw is broken by the way. It's definitely broke... Man that was good. Nice little a-whopping from one of the best to ever do it," Paul told ESPN. Despite the loss, he confirmed his plans to take a break and then return to compete at the cruiserweight division, ambitiously stating, "I love this s*** and I'm going to come back and get a world championship belt."
For Anthony Joshua, this victory marked a successful return to the ring after being knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September of last year for the IBF heavyweight title. However, the Olympic gold medalist was modest about his performance. "This wasn't the best performance," Joshua admitted. He explained his strategy: "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 the destination."
The fight, a major event in the crossover boxing space, has once again highlighted the stark difference between a seasoned world-class athlete and a determined but less experienced contender.
