Boxing: YouTuber Paul knocked out in farce match with Joshua

Former British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua he employed six rounds to knock out lo YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul Friday in Miami. This meeting, with its extraordinary circumstances, broadcast on Netflix for a estimated gross of 184 million of dollars, it seemed completely bogus once hostilities began, as the 28-year-old American was clearly outclassed.

The former internet prankster, now professional boxer and promoter yes he is clinging to his opponent and he spent a lot of time on the groundnot for the blows he received, but for the continuous throwing himself at the British man’s legs to avoid his powerful punches.

One year after the victory on pointscontro Mike Tyson, the then 58-year-old boxing legend, Jake Paul (1.85 m, 97 kg), faced a much younger and more dangerous opponent, Joshua (2.08 m, 111 kg), 36-year-old 2012 Olympic champion and former world heavyweight champion. Paul (14 fights, 12 wins, 2 losses) was initially due to face American Gervonta Davis, another big name but in a much lower weight category, but changed plans last month following new domestic violence allegations against his chosen opponent.

The first few rounds of the bout were a farce, with the two boxers exchanging few blows. Paul avoided the challenge at every opportunity, and Joshua (33 fights, 29 wins, 4 losses) showed little initiative, despite his clear superiority. After being knocked down for the first time in the fifth round, during which he still managed to land a solid right hand on Joshua, Paul was defeated in the sixth round.

He got up a second time after being knocked down, before being finally knocked out by a straight right. “It wasn’t my best performance,” Joshua admitted into the organizers’ microphone. “The goal was to knock him out, make him suffer. It took longer than expected, but he did it. He defended himself well tonight. It takes courage. You have to respect him for trying, but he faced a real fighter.”

The former heavyweight champion, whose career is now marked by numerous defeats, the last of which dates back to September 2024 against compatriot Daniel Dubois, took advantage of the microphone to launch a challenge to Tyson Fury, his exuberant compatriot and former heavyweight champion, who he has never faced. Fury announced his retirement in January, but has already managed to return to action following that announcement.