On December 19th, Jake Paul faced a tough night in Miami, failing to earn any favor from the three judges at ringside. The YouTuber-turned-boxer suffered his second professional defeat just before Christmas, after Anthony Joshua broke his jaw with a powerful right hand that caused the fight to be stopped in the sixth round during the heavyweight bout featured on Netflix at the Kaseya Center.
Paul’s hopes of winning any rounds were quickly dashed as Joshua secured a decisive shutout victory, scoring a dominant 60-50 on all three judges’ scorecards. Martial arts communities remain split—some applaud Paul for stepping into the ring with a heavyweight like “AJ,” while others criticize his tactical approach to accepting the fight on short notice, especially after his planned exhibition match with Gervonta Davis was canceled amid Davis’ legal troubles.
Throughout the match, Paul was accused of avoiding engagement with Joshua, often retreating and attempting takedowns. Despite Paul’s claims of competitiveness, the judges’ scorecards—held by David Sutherland, Steven Weisfeld, and Michael Take—showed Joshua clearly in control, particularly in the fifth and sixth rounds, which were scored 10-7.
After the fight, Paul told his brother Logan on the Impaulsive Podcast that he believed he had won two of the six rounds, citing factors like his cardio and the challenge of facing someone with Joshua’s power, especially under big gloves. He described the experience as valuable and a learning opportunity. However, the official judges saw the outcome much differently, confirming Joshua’s commanding lead.
Fan Take: This fight highlights the growing pains of crossover stars like Jake Paul entering professional boxing, emphasizing the skill gap between seasoned pros and newcomers. For Fighting fans, it’s a reminder of the sport’s demanding nature and the high level of toughness and strategy required to compete at the top.
