By Peter Omopo
Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua recorded a sixth-round knockout victory over American fighter Jake Paul in a heavyweight bout held in Miami, United States, on Saturday night.
The contest, scheduled for eight rounds of three minutes each, ended in the sixth round when Joshua unleashed a powerful right hand that sent Paul to the canvas for the fourth time, prompting the referee to stop the fight. The win marked Joshua’s 26th knockout victory in his professional career.
Despite the bout being shorter than a standard heavyweight contest, Paul, a 28-year-old social media personality turned boxer, exceeded some expectations by lasting into the later rounds. He showed resilience but struggled to match Joshua’s power and experience in the ring.
Joshua asserted his dominance in the fifth round, flooring Paul twice and signalling an imminent end to the fight. The decisive moment came in the following round after sustained pressure from the former world champion.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua said he had hoped to secure an earlier stoppage but expressed satisfaction with the result. He praised Paul’s determination, noting that the American showed courage by repeatedly getting back to his feet.
The victory marked Joshua’s return to competitive boxing after a 15-month absence and, according to him, has boosted his confidence ahead of future challenges. He also renewed calls for a high-profile clash with fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury, describing it as a fight the division needs.
Paul later revealed that he sustained a broken jaw during the bout. The loss was the second of his professional career, and he said he would take time to recover before deciding on his next steps in boxing.
