Anthony Joshua overwhelms Jake Paul for late knockout finish. The highly anticipated heavyweight boxing showdown between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua took place on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The event brought together one of boxing’s most experienced former champions and one of the sport’s most talked‑about crossover fighters in what quickly became one of the year’s biggest fight nights.
Round one of the fight started with Paul immediately circling away from Joshua, showing smart movement. He stayed just outside Joshua’s jab range. Paul then stepped in for a body shot and nearly got caught with a counter. He later landed a right hand that connected clean. Paul awkwardly clinched Joshua, grabbed him, and fell back into the ropes, almost like pulling guard. Paul jabbed to the body again. Joshua threw a right hand but it fell short. He later caught Paul with a shot, but Paul quickly ducked out.
Round two started with Joshua looking more aggressive, Joshua landed a solid jab, then went back to the body. He continued pumping the jab, while Paul kept circling and moving and then Paul sneaked in a body shot and quickly got out, Joshua then landed a good left hand. There was a lot of clinching with low output and Joshua finished the sequence with another clean jab.
Round there started and Joshua immediately stopped Paul from circling away, Paul rushed in and went straight into the clinch. Joshua shrugged him off and fired a left hook, he followed with a short right hand that landed. Paul kept bouncing around, but Joshua timed another right hand and connected. Paul nearly stumbled along the ropes as he circled away from Joshua and then Paul eventually landed a short uppercut on the inside. He threw a jab and went right back into the clinch. Joshua landed a couple of jabs and threw the right hand, though without much setup, Paul clinched again and it was slow and scrappy.
Joshua opened round four with a good jab. Paul rushed in with another wild clinch that looked close to a tackle, and the crowd reacted loudly. Paul landed an overhand right, followed by a jab. Joshua looked frustrated and went back to another awkward clinch, the referee then warned him to stop. Paul leaned on the ropes, inviting Joshua forward. Joshua landed a couple of jabs, then threw a right hand that missed badly. Paul then slipped and fell to the floor. Joshua finally landed a clean inside uppercut which suddenly dropped Paul to the canvas again in a strange sequence. The action was paused as it appeared Paul may have taken a low shot. On replay, it looked like Paul pulled Joshua down on top of him. With 30 seconds left, Paul jabbed the body and landed a left hook, Paul then dropped to his knees again, and the referee warned both fighters.
Round five started and Paul immediately went into the clinch. Joshua landed a clean uppercut and Paul absorbed it but soon dropped to his knees again to take a breather. Paul then landed a left hand and Joshua jabbed as Paul missed wildly. Joshua attacked the body and started breaking Paul down, Joshua then landed a left hand and Paul looked shaky, possibly dealing with a leg issue. After a confusing exchange, the referee ruled it a knockdown. A right counter sent Paul backing away and another right hand landed and Paul dropped to a knee again, which was scored as a knockdown. Paul beat the count but had to survive the final 45 seconds. The commentary noted there was no three-knockdown rule in the main event. The two fighters traded right hands, with Joshua also taking a shot, Joshua landed another right and battered Paul in the corner, but Paul managed to escape and survived till the end of the round.
The last round started and Paul looked hurt and tired. After a glancing shot from Joshua, Paul dropped to his knees again, marking the third knockdown of the fight. Paul said he wanted to continue and Joshua stalked forward. A right hand landed clean and Joshua poured on the pressure. Paul stuck his tongue out, trying to showboat, but it did not help. Joshua swarmed him and a straight right dropped Paul hard. He was slow getting up, and the referee had no choice but to step in to stop the fight.
In the post fight interview, Joshua mentioned that it wasn’t the best performance. His goal was to pin Paul down and hurt him, it took longer than expected, but the right hand finally found the destination. He said Paul “did really well tonight. … You have to give Jake his respect for trying and trying and trying, well done. But he came up against a real fighter tonight.”
“If Tyson Fury’s as serious as he thinks he is and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there that will take on any challenge, step in the ring with me next if you’re a real bad boy. Don’t do all that talking, ‘AJ this, AJ that,’ let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists.” Paul says he it was “fun” and “I gave it my all.” He thanks his fans and Netflix.
“Anthony’s a great fighter. I got my ass beat, but that’s what this sport’s about, I’m going to come back and keep on winning.” He says his jaw is probably broken. “I love this shit and I’m going to come back and get a world championship belt at some point.”
Check out Paul vs. Joshua results below.
Main Card
Anthony Joshua def. Jake Paul via KO (R6, 1:31} Jaw broken
Alycia Baumgardner def. Lelia Beaudoin via unanimous decision (117-110 x2, 118-109)
Anderson Silva def. Tyron Woodley via TKO (R2, 1:33}
Jahmal Harvey def. Kevin Cervantes via unanimous decision (60-53 x3}
Prelims
Cherneka Johnson def. Amanda Galle via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93)
Caroline Dubois def. Camilla Panatta via unanimous decision (99-90 x3)
Yokasta Valle def. Yadira Bustillos via majority decision (95-95, 98-92, 96-94)
Avious Griffin def. Justin Cardona via first-round KO (2:59)
Keno Marley def. Diarra Davis Jr. via unanimous decision (40-35 x3)
