$92 MILLION EACH FOR A FAKE FIGHT? Anthony Joshua Delivers Brutal Knockout Over Jake Paul in Miami Showdown

In a fight billed as "Judgment Day," former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua proved there are still levels to professional boxing, stopping social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round on Friday night at the Kaseya Center.

The highly anticipated heavyweight clash, streamed live globally on Netflix, ended with Joshua (now 29-4, 26 KOs) dropping Paul four times before a devastating right hand forced the referee to wave off the contest at 1:31 of round six. Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) was later taken to the hospital, where scans revealed a double fracture to his jaw.

The early rounds were frustrating for Joshua, as Paul employed a survival-first strategy: constant lateral movement, clinching, and running along the ropes to avoid engagement. Paul, entering as a massive underdog, even stuck his tongue out at Joshua after surviving heavy shots, drawing boos from the crowd but earning respect for his durability.

Joshua, returning after a 15-month layoff following his loss to Daniel Dubois, struggled to cut off the ring initially. Punch stats through four rounds showed minimal action, with Paul landing occasional jabs while Joshua chased fruitlessly.

The tide turned in round five. Joshua finally pinned Paul down, landing clean power shots that sent the American crashing to the canvas twice. Paul rose both times, showing heart, but the damage was evident including the jaw injury that would later sideline him. In the sixth, Joshua unleashed a barrage. Another knockdown left Paul reeling in the corner, and a final crushing right hand ended the night. The referee intervened as Paul slumped, unable to continue.

The bout proved massively lucrative, with reports indicating a total purse of around $184 million split evenly, netting each fighter approximately $92 million (including PPV shares from Netflix's global stream)one of the largest in boxing history. Despite the decisive knockout and Paul's confirmed double jaw fracture requiring surgery, online fans quickly labeled the fight "scripted" or "rigged," citing Joshua's slow start and Paul's survival into later rounds as evidence of a pre-arranged plan to maximize entertainment and viewership. Promoters and both camps vehemently denied the claims, but the conspiracy theories exploded across social media.

Joshua, self-critical despite the win, admitted it "wasn't the best performance" but praised Paul's resilience: "It takes a real man to do that. Jake done well while it lasted."

He quickly shifted focus, calling out longtime British rival Tyson Fury in a fiery in-ring interview:

"If Tyson Fury wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves... let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists."

Paul, speaking from the hospital, remained defiant:

"We’re going to heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight... I’m going for the cruiserweight world title." He announced a short break from the sport after six intense years.

The matchup, born from Paul's bold call-outs starting in March 2025, drew massive viewership and controversy. Critics called it a mismatch, but Paul's survival into the later rounds silenced some doubters while highlighting the gap between influencer boxing and elite-level competition.

Joshua's victory restores some order to the heavyweight division, positioning him for potential blockbuster fights in 2026, possibly against Fury. For Paul, it's a humbling setback but another chapter in his improbable journey that's undeniably boosted boxing's mainstream appeal.

The full event, including undercard wins by Alycia Baumgardner and Anderson Silva, is available on-demand on Netflix. Boxing fans now await Joshua's next move – and whether Paul will indeed pivot to cruiserweight glory.