Joshua & Paul Deliver a Regrettable Spectacle and the Most Troubling Aspect is There's More to Come
Jake Paul's jaw dropped agape, his eyes becoming wide, stunned circles as he collapsed to the canvas in shock and awe following a devastating right hand from Anthony Joshua. It looked as if Paul was attempting to say "Wow!" as the force of the blow registered to his rattled senses.
"Those watching didn't pay to see this rubbish," snapped the referee, encapsulating the dismal spectacle far more effectively than any observer else managed to.
Pinned in a neutral corner of the ring in the middle of the sixth round, Paul could no longer retreat or hold on to Joshua's legs in a desperate clinch as the gravity of the sweet science became clear. Instead, as he attempted to withstand the punch that fractured his mandible in two separate places, Paul was lost in an completely stunned moment.
So that is what it is like, and looks, to be struck cleanly by a real professional fighter, an Olympic gold medallist and ex- world heavyweight champion. "Wow" is indeed the appropriate term.
It was the fourth time the former YouTuber had been sent to the floor, but the result of a clean power shot meant Paul could not get up and taunt his opponent before the official waved the charade to a halt. As blood began to trickle from his lips, and a numbing throb spread through his jaw, Paul at last understood how difficult, exhausting, and perilous boxing is at a respectable standard of professionalism.
An Unimpressive Impressive Victory for the Victor
Joshua, it should be stressed, was far from convincing amid the chaos. After his empty victory, he made a cut-throat motion that suggested a precise and lethal finish when, in truth, Joshua had appeared exasperated for most of the contest. Rather than exuding intimidation or exhibiting an unshakeable confidence, Joshua had seemed tentative and awkward for nearly five stanzas.
Paul's lack of conditioning, which is a basic essential in elite boxing, dictated the outcome. Without the gas to flee any more, and reduced to slipping to the deck as often as he could for a rest, Paul was rendered defenseless by exhaustion. Joshua applied the brutal finish, but, until then, he had looked like a sad shadow of the boxer he had been in 2017.
The Winner's Post-Fight Assessment
"It wasn't the best display," Joshua conceded. "The end goal was to get Jake Paul, corner him and hurt him. That has been the plan, and that's what was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally reached its destination."
Joshua praised Paul's bravery but he offered an excuse for his own stilted performance. "He faced a genuine competitor tonight that's had a 15-month hiatus," Joshua said, mentioning his previous defeat. "We shook off the rust, and I am eager to roll into 2026."
What Comes Next: Faded Forces and New Talent
In the press conference afterwards, a cheerful Joshua attempted a poor imitation of Tyson Fury as he demanded a fight against the currently retired boxer. Joshua will likely get his wish, but that bout comes far too late in their professional journeys. Both men are on the far side of the peak.
In contrast, the most compelling big men in the world are the Ukrainian master and Moses Itauma. Usyk remains the unquestioned ruler of the division, having beaten both Joshua and Fury on two occasions. Meanwhile, Itauma is a rising talent. The young British heavyweight likely have required less than half the amount of rounds that Joshua needed to knock Paul into a suitably wowed state.
Paul's Unbowed Reaction
But the public receives what the public desires, and that undoubtedly means additional low-quality crossover fights. Paul appeared truly proud and cocky to have had his jaw broken by a hammer-like right. In the wee hours of Saturday morning, he shared an X-ray, with the two fractures highlighted in red.
That jokey nod to the Mexican superstar, a much superior boxer than Joshua but a equally diminished force, demonstrated that Paul's brazen audacity is undented. It might not be Canelo, but Paul will shortly locate someone else with whom he can make more than $50 million.
While he was being interviewed, before departing to the hospital, Paul spat a streak of blood onto the ring floor. It was one more grim symbol of the evening as Paul mixed harsh reality with blood-flecked bravado and stated: "I think my jaw is broken. It's definitely broke. A proper ass-whipping from one of the greatest to ever step in the ring. I adore this shit and I'm going to return and continue winning."
