Anthony Joshua stops Jake Paul in sixth-round knockout amid Netflix boxing spectacle in Miami

Anthony Joshua stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round on Friday night in Miami, delivering a knockout that underscored the gap between a seasoned heavyweight and the high-profile YouTuber turned boxer. The bout, staged as Netflixs latest boxing spectacle at the Kaseya Center, began with Paul circling away from danger and shaping the pace, while Joshua pressed forward with measured power.

Paul largely avoided exchanges and spent long stretches dancing to the outside, repeatedly dropping to the canvas and at times grabbing Joshua's legs in a bid to slow the onslaught. The antics drew sharp reaction from the crowd and a stern rebuke from the referee as the action repeatedly stalled in the early rounds. The pattern frustrated fans online and gave the impression of a fight more show than substance for much of the early going.

In the sixth round Joshua finally punctuated his size and skill with a sustained flurry that sent Paul crashing to the canvas and prompted the referee to stop the bout. It was a winding path to the finish, but Joshua finished decisively, delivering a message that the best in the division still require ring intelligence and power to contend. After the bout, Paul said his jaw had been definitely broken during the fight, a claim that underscored the physical toll of the contest. Joshua, while not dazzling in his performance by his own legendary standards, used the win to reaffirm his position in the heavyweight ranks and to issue a callout that has long fueled their public feud with Tyson Fury.

The co main event delivered its own drama as Alycia Baumgardner retained her unified super featherweight titles with a seventh round knockdown en route to a clear majority decision over Leila Beaudoin, 117-110, 117-110 and 118-109 on the scorecards. Baumgardner controlled much of the action, repeatedly finding punching angles and dictating the pace as Beaudoin pressed in late. The victory kept Baumgardner atop the division as she continues to build a long run of dominance.

Earlier in the night, UFC veteran Anderson Silva made a boxing return of note by stopping Tyron Woodley in the second round of their cruiserweight clash. The 50-year-old former MMA champion flashed quick hands and timing, finishing Woodley with a decisive volley that reinforced the notion that age is not simply a barrier in the squared circle. In a pointed postfight moment, Silva announced a pivot that surprised some observers, saying he intends to pursue a path in law enforcement, a claim that added an unexpected twist to the night’s narrative.

The event landed with a star power that matched the onstage hype. Ringside reporters and a parade of celebrities filled the arena, and Sibley Scoles anchored the broadcast as an on-site interviewer. Among those seen courtside were Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, golf great Rory McIlroy, and a slate of music and sports figures who helped to keep the spectacle front and center for viewers at home. Pre-fight chatter centered on Paul walking out with rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, a launchpad for a weekend of online buzz that only amplified the Netflix production sheen. Drake, the global entertainer who later drew social media attention for his betting stance, placed a $200,000 wager on Paul in a move that quickly became part of the night’s ongoing conversation. The so-called Drake curse lingered online as Joshua mounted a rebuttal to the narrative that had followed Paul into the ring.

As the crowd soaked in the fireworks and the media unpacked the night, the fight managed to straddle the line between entertainment extravaganza and legitimate sporting contest. While Joshua delivered the knockout that many expected, the broader program underscored the challenges of balancing real competition with high-gloss spectacle in a Netflix-led boxing event. Still, the primary takeaway was clear: Joshua remains a dominant figure in the weight class and, with Fury on the horizon as a potential next opponent, the boxing world is watching closely to see whether this bout can catalyze a long-delayed unification showdown that fans have long desired.

The evening also highlighted the ongoing evolution of boxing as a platform for celebrities and influencers to converge with elite athletes. The mix of sport and spectacle continues to draw attention, and for Joshua and his team, the takeaway is that the path back toward a defining title fight may be clearer after a knockout that, for better or worse, will be remembered as much for its television production as for the action inside the ring.