It might have taken longer than most thought, but Friday night in Miami former unified heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua of England came to the USA and kayoed social media/Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul in six rounds.
It ended as most thought it would, with Anthony Joshua kayoing Jake Paul in the Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix main event Friday night. However, some will criticize that it took too long to do so.
The heavyweight spectacle at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, known as "Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day" set a new benchmark as the highest-grossing boxing gate in the venue’s history, but that was the only real highlight for Paul.
Headlining was former unified heavyweight champ Joshua whom improved to 29–4, 25 KOs by knocking Paul down four times in the final three rounds of the bout to drop him to 12–2, 7 KOs.
It was clearly the toughest test Paul had faced in his five year boxing career. With the 6'5" 250 lb. imposing Joshua having held three of heavyweight world championships and being a previous Olympic gold medalist
Joshua asserted his dominance from the opening bell, using his experience, power, and composure to control the pace of the fight. Though not much happened in the first three rounds. Joshua began to open up finally in the middle rounds, sending Paul to the canvas in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds.
With Paul looking tired and repeatedly going to the ground and grabbing Joshua around the legs, the Brit ultimately closed the show with a decisive sixth-round knockout at the 1:31 mark. It was a statement victory that captivated fans in the U.S. and in Great Britain for certain.
“Jake Paul has done really well tonight," Joshua said post fight to Netflix in the ring. "I want to give him his props,” Joshua said. “He got up time and time again. It was difficult in there for him but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that. Anyone who laces up these gloves, we have to give them their respect. We have to give Jake his respect for trying and trying and trying. Well done but he came up against a real fighter.”
“That was fun. I love this sport,” Paul said in the ring. “I gave it my all. It’s fucking crazy. I had a blast. Anthony is a great fighter and I got my ass beat. But that’s what this sport’s about. I’m gonna come back again and keep on winning. I’ve already won in every single way in life. This sport has helped me so much in life.”
Then, Paul said he thought his jaw was broken and proceeded to spit out a stream of blood worldwide on Netflix.
“It’s definitely broke,” Paul said. “That was good. Nice little ass whopping from one of the best to ever do it. I love this shit. I’m gonna come back and get a world championship belt at some point.”
The win for Joshua came 15 months after former IBF heavyweight champ Daniel Dubois had starched him in a knockout at London's Wembley Stadium. Now, Joshua is ready to try to fight former two time heavyweight champ Tyson Fury in a mega-money bout next year.
In the co-main, MVP’s undisputed super featherweight world champion Alycia Baumgardner improved to 17-1, 7 KOs delivered a dominant performance to retain her unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world titles at 130 lb. against Canada’s #2 IBF, #3 WBO and WBA contender Leila Beaudoin 13-2, 2 KOs. Contested under 12 three-minute rounds, equal to the men’s championship standard, Baumgardner controlled the action from start to finish, knocking down Beaudoin with a right hand at the end of the 7th round. Beaudoin was in survival mode for the rest of the fight. And after 12 rounds the bout went to the official cards with Baumgardner earning a unanimous decision victory (117-110x2, 118-109).
She might possibly move up next to fight WBC lightweight champ Caroline Dubois, who won her title defense on the undercard by easy 10 round decision.