Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul to win Netflix boxing bout
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British boxer Anthony Joshua celebrating after defeating US boxer and influencer Jake Paul (off frame) in a non-title heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Dec 19.
PHOTO: AFP
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MIAMI – Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua said it was “not his best performance”, as he knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Dec 19.
The fight at the Kaseya Center, which saw both men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of US$184 million (S$237.8 million), had triggered alarm across boxing due to the gulf in physical size and class between Britain’s two-time former world champion Joshua and Paul, an internet personality who has forged a lucrative career through a handful of novelty boxing contests.
However, Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less accomplished opponent, before his superior size and power eventually told in the later stages of the eight-round fight, with a sixth-round knockout.
A lacklustre contest descended into farce at times, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling at Joshua’s legs.
At one stage, even referee Christopher Young appeared to be losing patience, warning the fighters in the fourth round: “The fans did not pay to see this crap.”
As Paul tired, Joshua began to land punches with more regularity, and after knocking down the American twice in the fifth round, the end came swiftly in the sixth.
“It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua, 36, admitted afterwards. “But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him.
“That was the request leading up, and that was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination.”
He also praised Paul for lasting into the later rounds. “I want to give him his props – he got up time and time again,” Joshua added. “It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that.”
Paul, meanwhile, his mouth bloodied from Joshua’s final assault, said he believed his jaw had been broken – but was satisfied with his performance.
“That was fun. I gave it my all,” he said. “I had a blast. I think my jaw is broken by the way. But Anthony’s one of the best to ever do it so. I’m gonna come back and get a world championship.
“I just got tired to be honest – like it was so much handling his weight. I think with better cardio I could have kept it up and kept on fighting. But he hits really hard.”
Joshua, fighting for the first time in 15 months, always looked the more threatening fighter, landing 48 of 146 punches thrown compared to the 28-year-old Paul’s meagre total of 16 punches landed.
The Briton is now turning his attention towards a money-spinning bout against compatriot and fellow former world champion Tyson Fury in 2026. AFP
