Anthony Joshua defeated Jake Paul in a six-round bout that ended with a knockout. The fight saw Paul initially trying to evade Joshua, but Joshua eventually landed multiple knockdowns in the fifth and sixth rounds before delivering a final decisive blow. Despite acknowledging it wasn’t his best performance, Joshua commended Paul for his resilience in the ring.
Joshua had stepped in to replace Gervonta Davis for a lucrative £70 million offer after Davis was removed from the fight due to allegations made by an ex-girlfriend. The lead-up to the fight saw Joshua expressing his disbelief at the opportunity and making bold statements, including a threat towards Paul. The match itself lacked the usual fanfare, with Joshua displaying a focused demeanor from the outset.
The fight unfolded with Paul attempting to maintain distance and evade Joshua’s attacks, with the crowd starting to jeer early on. Joshua gradually closed the gap and landed significant punches, while Paul resorted to holding and falling to the canvas multiple times. The match culminated in a sixth-round knockout by Joshua, ending the bout decisively.
In other matches, Alycia Baumgardner retained her super-featherweight titles with a routine victory over Leila Beaudoin, and Anderson Silva defeated Tyron Woodley in a battle of UFC veterans. London’s Caroline Dubois also successfully defended her lightweight world title with a points win over Camilla Pannata.