By Victor Okoye
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua stopped boxing novice Jake Paul in the sixth round of a heavily one-sided bout in Miami.
Joshua dominated proceedings as Paul spent long stretches evading, before the former champion imposed his power with successive knockdowns in the fifth round.
Paul fell again in the sixth after a clean right hand ended the contest at the Kaseya Centre.
The American failed to beat the count but later rose and left the ring unaided, drawing relief from the crowd.
Joshua admitted the fight took longer than expected but said patience paid off when his right hand finally landed.
The outcome matched widespread predictions, renewing concerns about safety in contests with glaring gaps in experience and size.
The victory was Joshua’s 29th in 33 professional bouts, sharpening focus on a possible clash with Tyson Fury in 2026.
Paul, 28, could not deliver his promised upset and struggled under Joshua’s pressure, in spite of him briefly surviving into the middle rounds.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer had previously faced Mike Tyson, but found Joshua’s power overwhelming.
The event, streamed globally by Netflix, drew celebrities including Rory McIlroy to the ringside.
Joshua’s decisive right hand echoed memories of his knockout of Francis Ngannou in 2024.
Joshua now eyes another tune-up bout before a potential Fury showdown, while Paul vowed to return and chase a cruiserweight title. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
