Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua successfully returned to the professional ring with a knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, stopping the American in the sixth round of their much-publicised bout at the Kaseya Center. The fight was streamed globally on Netflix and drew massive attention beyond traditional boxing audiences.
Joshua entered the contest as a heavy favourite, with bookmakers and boxing analysts widely predicting a stoppage. Anything short of a knockout was seen as a major upset, given the vast difference in elite-level experience between the two fighters.
Although Paul came into the bout with a respectable professional record of 12 wins from 13 fights, including seven knockouts, critics noted that most of his victories had come against ageing former boxers or mixed martial artists transitioning into boxing. His only fight against a seasoned professional boxer had ended in defeat, reinforcing doubts about his readiness for a contest of this level.
Paul showed resilience and mobility in the early rounds, briefly frustrating Joshua with his movement and willingness to absorb punishment. However, Joshua remained composed, using his jab, ring control, and physical strength to wear down his opponent over time.
By the sixth round, Joshua found the decisive opening. A clean, powerful combination sent Paul to the canvas, prompting the referee to halt the contest and confirm the knockout.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, had been outspoken before the fight, describing Paul as “delusional” and insisting the bout was intended to expand Joshua’s profile in the United States while delivering one of the most lucrative paydays of his career. The stated objective was a clear win and a swift exit — a goal ultimately achieved, even if it took longer than some expected.
Joshua had also been confident ahead of the fight, stating there was “no chance” the bout would go the distance. While he did not secure an early stoppage, the sixth-round finish removed any doubts about the outcome.
The bout marked Joshua’s first fight in over a year, following his loss of the heavyweight title to Daniel Dubois. Questions had been raised about his sharpness and mindset after the layoff, but his measured performance, power, and composure helped ease those concerns.
While the contest was seen largely as a crossover spectacle, the result reaffirms Joshua’s standing as a top-level heavyweight. The decisive win sets the stage for a return to elite competition, with potential future bouts against leading contenders now firmly back on the agenda.
For Paul, the defeat highlights the gap between influencer boxing success and competing against established world-class professionals.
Source: Africa Publicity
