Jake Paul Knocked Out in Heavyweight Clash Against Anthony Joshua

Miami: Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua competes on a different level, and Jake Paul learned the hard way that there are levels in boxing.

Joshua defeated Paul in the sixth round of their planned eight-round main event on Saturday night at Kaseya Center in a brutal fight that went far longer than many had anticipated. Joshua finished at 1:31 after scoring four knockdowns, twice in the fifth and twice in the sixth rounds.

As jeers erupted in the crowd, Paul, a former social media influencer who is now a professional boxer, circled away from Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) during the first half of the bout. Paul’s unwillingness to fight ensured his early survival, but when chants of “knock him out” erupted, his conditioning failed him as the massive Brit raced up to his exhausted opponent and finished the fight with a brilliant straight right hand.

Joshua remarked, “It wasn’t the best performance,” but he respected Paul for coming to the fight. “It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination.”

31 of Joshua’s 48 punches (32.9%) were delivered in Rounds 5 and 6. Paul made 16 of 56 punches (28.6%), but none of them were delivered in the sixth round.

Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) made his comeback to the ring after a 15-month hiatus following his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in a bout that few had anticipated. But Paul was eager to find a new opponent by the end of the year when Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the WBA lightweight champion, had to postpone their November fight due to legal troubles.

It didn’t take long for Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) and Joshua to square off in an official heavyweight boxing contest. Paul has always wanted to fight Joshua.

Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, was adamant that he wouldn’t overlook Paul despite his inexperience, despite many people’s doubts.

Inside the ring on Friday night, their disagreements erupted as Paul attempted to survive while Joshua concentrated on getting a knockout.

Joshua entered the ring with Philadelphia rapper Freeway playing “What We Do,” while Paul, dressed like Hulk Hogan, emerged with his older brother Logan and controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine performing “Billy.” The two played a game of cat and mouse once the altercation began.

Paul weighed 216.6 pounds, the second-highest of his professional career, and there was a noticeable disparity in size between the two. Joshua weighed 243.4 pounds, which was less than the 245-pound agreed weight restriction. However, Joshua’s advantages of five inches in height and six inches in reach, along with his years of championship experience, would be too much for Paul to overcome.

In spite of this, Paul outlived some of Joshua’s earlier adversaries, such as Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. But Joshua was always aiming for a knockout, so he couldn’t win the fight by just surviving his opponent. The crowd was impatient for more action, and Paul’s plan was to stay out of trouble while attempting to catch Joshua with his overhand right.