Despite a cautious start from both fighters, Joshua began to take control midway through the contest. After a series of tentative early rounds, the British star turned up the pressure in the fifth, flooring Paul multiple times and forcing the momentum firmly in his favour.
The decisive moment came in round six, when Joshua landed a powerful right hand that sent Paul crashing to the canvas. Although Paul briefly rose to his feet, the referee waved off the fight at 1:31 of the sixth, giving Joshua a definitive knockout win.
The result improves Joshua’s record to 29-4 with 26 knockouts, while Paul suffers only the second loss of his professional career. Many fans and commentators praised Paul’s heart for lasting into the championship rounds, while others noted that he appeared outmatched by the seasoned heavyweight.
Afterwards, Joshua acknowledged that the win wasn’t his most dominant performance but emphasized the importance of execution and respect for Paul’s toughness. Meanwhile, Paul revealed he may have suffered a broken jaw in the bout, but was already hinting at a return to the ring in the future.
With this victory, Joshua has signalled his intent to push toward major heavyweight fights in 2026, potentially reigniting long-talked-about matchups with other top stars in the division.
