Joshua Topples ‘The Problem Child’—Is a Battle for Britain with Fury Finally Next?

Joshua Topples ‘The Problem Child’—Is a Battle for Britain with Fury Finally Next?

MIAMI, FL – In a night defined more by a professional approach than personal grudge, Anthony Joshua silenced the Kaseya Center and the social media world alike, stopping Jake Paul via a thunderous sixth-round knockout.

The victory, while expected by boxing purists, serves as a pivotal bridge for Joshua as he looks to put a turbulent 2024 behind him and march toward a historic 2026.

The Fight: Patience Over Power

For the first four rounds, the “Problem Child” lived up to his nickname, proving to be a frustrating puzzle for the former two-time unified champion. Paul utilized a “bicycle” strategy, moving laterally and clinching frequently to avoid Joshua’s reach. At times, the spectacle bordered on the bizarre, with Paul falling to the canvas during clinches and even faking a leg injury in the fourth to break Joshua’s rhythm.

However, the tide turned violently in Round 5. Joshua finally pinned the smaller man in the corner, landing a stinging left hook that buckled Paul’s legs. Two knockdowns followed in quick succession as AJ’s superior size—boasting a nearly two-stone weight advantage, began to tell.

The end came at 1:31 of Round 6. Joshua unleashed a “bomb of a right hand” that sent Paul crashing to the canvas for the final time. Though Paul attempted to beat the count, the referee waved it off, citing the social media star’s lack of balance and a suspected broken jaw.

“It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua admitted in the ring afterward. “The goal was to pin him down and hurt him. It took longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination.”

The Aftermath: Respect Amidst the Rubble

Despite the pre-fight vitriol, the two shared a moment of respect post-fight. Paul, spitting blood and nursing his jaw, acknowledged the gulf in class.

• Jake Paul: “He hits really hard. I just got tired handling his weight, but I did my personal best.”

• Anthony Joshua: “Jake Paul has done really well tonight. It takes a real man to get up time and time again.”

The Question on Everyone’s Lips: What About Fury?

With Paul cleared from the path, the boxing world immediately turned its gaze toward a “Battle for Britain.” Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, didn’t mince words about their 2026 ambitions.

“Respect to Jake Paul, but 2026 is back to real business,” Hearn told reporters. “We want Tyson Fury. That is the biggest fight in boxing, and we want it for the world heavyweight championship.”

Reports suggest that Turki Alalshikh is already orchestrating a “Riyadh Season” mega-event for September 2026 in London. With both Joshua and Fury (who recently hinted at ending his retirement) reportedly eyeing separate “tune-up” bouts in early 2026, the stage is finally set for the most anticipated British clash in heavyweight history.