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| Jake Paul fights Anthony Joshua (Image: Getty Images) |
The official scorecards from Anthony Joshua's sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul have been released.
Anthony Joshua was leading on all scorecards prior to his sixth-round knockout triumph over Jake Paul earlier this month. The British boxer made a comeback to the ring for the first time since his heart-wrenching knockout loss to compatriot Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
The bout with YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul was seen as an opportunity for Joshua to gain some vital ring time ahead of a significant 2026. In what was largely a lacklustre heavyweight showdown, the fight sparked into action in the fifth round when Joshua floored his opponent twice.
Despite hearing the bell, Paul couldn't withstand Joshua's powerful right hand that landed minutes later, resulting in a broken jaw in two places.
Following the match, Paul drove himself to the hospital and had to consume his Christmas dinner through a straw after undergoing surgery for his fractured jaw. On Monday, the Florida Athletic Commission revealed the official scores to MMA Fighting.
The three judges scoring the fight were David Sutherland, Steve Weisfeld and Michael Tate.
All three judges awarded every round to Joshua, including a 10-7 round in the fifth after Joshua had floored his opponent multiple times. The sixth also showed a 10-7 round, but it had no impact on the fight after the former two-time unified heavyweight world champion ended the bout with a potent right hand in the same round.
Despite a stunning knockout in the sixth round and returning to the winner's circle, the 36-year-old was not satisfied with his performance in Miami. "I needed to do better, It's a win, but it's not a success. I feel my coach expects more from me, and I expect more from myself. But what can we do? I can't live off of that win," he said.
"So, yeah, I'm not happy. I had boxing on my back today, and that is what it was really. I took Jake as serious as I needed to, but most importantly, I take myself as serious as I need to. You have to be prepared. One slip-up could cost you in that ring."
Paul has been indefinitely suspended following the first stoppage defeat of his career. This means he will require medical clearance to fight again in the state.
The 28-year-old is expected to take a break from the ring before potentially returning to competitive action next summer.
In the lead-up to the fight night, rumours circulated that Tyson Fury was reportedly gearing up for his comeback for a much-anticipated face-off with 'AJ. ' Both fighters are expected to headline during "a Riyadh Season mega-event" in 2026.
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| Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Jake Paul after their heavyweight bout (Image: Getty Images) |
Prior to this eagerly awaited showdown, both pugilists will participate in respective tune-up fights.
However, some are questioning whether Joshua can continue his boxing career after being involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria on Monday. Two men, identified as Kevin Ayodele and Sina Ghami, tragically lost their lives, while Joshua was also taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The news broke on Monday that the British boxer had been involved in a car crash with four others on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria revealed in their initial findings that the incident involved a black Lexus Jeep, in which Joshua was a passenger, colliding with a stationary red commercial Sinotruck.
They confirmed that five adult males were involved in the collision.
Ayodele, who worked as Joshua's personal trainer, was also known to be the boxer's closest friend. Ghami, on the other hand, served as AJ's strength and conditioning coach.
A shaken Joshua, whose parents are both Nigerian, was in the backseat of a Lexus that crashed into a stationary truck. Images released by Nigerian authorities showed the mangled vehicle - with Joshua in pain amidst broken glass.
Emergency workers swiftly arrived at the scene near a petrol station on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway shortly after 11am on Monday morning in Makun.
Tributes have been pouring in for the two men who tragically lost their lives. Flowers and a lit candle are among the tokens of remembrance left outside Evolve Gym in Colindale, north west London, owned by Ghami, who sadly died in the crash.
Agash Satkunarajah, 26, from Harrow, who knew Sina, spent several minutes reflecting on the tributes. He said: "It's quite devastating to see that they went for a holiday and never came home. For AJ I just don't know where this takes him. I think mentally he's going to be broken. AJ used to come here and prepare for his fights. He was a close friend of Sina's.
"Sina was his very good friend, but he was also his strength and conditioning coach so I think it will be very difficult for him to continue when two of the most important people in your boxing career have passed away sadly."
- James Evans
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