In what may be boxing’s most controversial fight since 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul fought and defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November last year, Paul will enter the ring again on Friday night at 20,000-seat Kaseya Center in Miami.
This time, Paul will be facing an actual, active former heavyweight champion in 36-year-old British knockout artist Anthony Joshua.
Join Heavy.com for live round-by-round coverage of the Paul vs. Joshua fight right here on this page, complete with our own unofficial scoring. Reload this page starting at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Pacific, for instant reaction to the highly anticipated fight, as well as the co-main event featuring women’s unified super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner taking on Canadian challenger Leila Beaudoin.
The card will stream live on Netflix starting at 8 p.m. Eastern, leading up to the co-main events, and will be included with a Netflix subscription at no extra charge.
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua
The main event is up next. Our coverage will start here. Scroll down to relive our round-by-round of Alycia Baumgardner vs. Leila Beaudoin. Or just stay right here as we go live with the highly anticipated, for any number of reasons, Paul vs. Joshua fight.
The national anthems, British and American, have begun. The ring walks are moments away.
Obviously, anyone and everyone is expecting Joshua to knock Paul out in the early rounds. The only real way for Paul to prevent that fate is to run away and then clinch for dear life when the action moves inside. Joshua is walking to the ring, so we’ll see if those predictions come true in just moments.
If Paul does decide to spend the fight running, he’ll have to do it for only eight rounds in this non-title bout.
Paul walks to the ring wearing a “Hulkamania” jacket, in honor of the late pro wrestler Hulk Hogan. Seems somehow appropriate.
Here we go…
Round 1
The bell rings and the main event is underway!
Not too surprisingly, Paul comes out dancing, running and circling. Joshua isn’t going to be drawn into any traps here.
Paul throws a double jab to the body. It barely connects. So far, Paul is landing the only punches, but nothing worth mentioning. Joshua throws a right hand that grazes a ducking Paul, who is staying well out of range.
Reluctantly have to give that round to Paul, even though it could hardly be called impressive.
Paul 10, Joshua 9
Round 2
Joshua clearly going for the knockout as expected. But Paul simply refuses to engage in any meaningful way.
Paul moves close but clinches, also as predicted. Paul’s entire strategy is not to fight at all. But it does seem to be annoying Joshua.
Joshua didn’t land anything meaningful in that round, but he was the aggressor, so the round goes to Joshua.
Paul 19, Joshua 19
Round 3
Paul is simply making this a track meet. Not much of an enjoyable fight to watch. Paul is literally doing nothing, but can he win by simply not losing? Joshua can’t find his target because Paul keeps moving away.
Again, Joshua was the aggressor, though he didn’t get anything done. But he wins the round by default on our card.
Paul 28, Joshua 29
Round 4
Paul lands a right hand to the side of Joshua’s head, then crumples to his knees when Joshua gets close. But so far, Paul is landing at least a few punches.
Paul falls down for the third time. Maybe four.
And again. Paul claiming that Joshua hit him low. Replay shows no low blow landed, but Joshua’s knee may have.
Paul “slips” again. Netflix should be ashamed for carrying this event.
Since we have to give that round to someone, we have to give it to Paul because he landed a few punches. But the way he is conducting himself in the ring is unprofessional, to say the least.
Paul 38, Joshua 38
Round 5
Huge right by Joshua! Paul absorbs the blow but then kneels on the canvas again.
Knockdown! Paul barely gets up. And a second knockdown. Paul badly hurt but fighting on.
Huge round for Joshua, but Paul survives, somehow. A 10-7 round for AJ.
Paul 45, Joshua 48
Round 6
Knockdown again. Not sure what Paul is doing here. Now Paul sticks out his tongue at Joshua.
Monster right hand from Joshua ends the fight!
Give Paul credit for lasting into the sixth, though he didn’t do it by fighting. But the fight ends in the way everyone thought it would. It just took a little longer.
1:31 of the sixth round is the official time of the knockout.
When Paul finally made an attempt to engage, it was no contest.
“The end goal was to get at Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him,” Joshua says. He also gives credit to Paul. “We have to give Jake respect for trying.”
Joshua then issues a challenge to Tyson Fury.
Paul says that he had fun and thanks his fans. “I got my a** beat, but that’s what this sport’s about.”
That’s it for this one. Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of the Paul vs. Joshua fight and the entire Netflix card.
Paul vs. Joshua Looks Like Mismatch
The difference in size and experience, not to mention talent, between Paul and Joshua appears to be so great that boxing writers Sarah Shephard and Chris McKenna of The Athletic said that the seeming mismatch “borders on comical.”
If, or perhaps when, Joshua connects, Paul may not find the proceedings especially funny at all. And that is exactly what Amir Khan, Joshua’s fellow British former champion, albeit in the junior welterweight division, has predicted.
“This fight could be the fight that stops influencer boxing because if [Joshua] hits him with that same right hand that he caught Francis Ngannou with, I don’t think any YouTuber will want to fight again,” Khan said, as quoted by ESPN.com Wednesday.
Joshua has knocked out 25 of the 32 opponents he has faced in his 12-year pro career, with only four losses on his record. A two-time unified heavyweight champion, twice holding the WBO, IBF and WBA belts, Joshua also won a gold medal as a super heavyweight at the 2012 London Olympics.
Alycia Baumgardner vs. Leila Beaudoin
Defending unified super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner is about to walk to the ring, where she will put her 16-1 record on the line against 13-1 Canadian skier-turned-boxer Leila Beaudoin. Reload this page for live, round-by-round coverage and our Heavy.com as-it-happens scorecard.
For Beaudoin, the clash with Baumgardner will be her first title shot and her first fight in the United States.
Round 1
There’s the bell and we’re underway.
It’s a slow beginning as neither fighter lands a significant punch in the first minute.
A close round mainly due to inactivity, but Baumgardner appears to be controlling the pace and becomes more aggressive toward the end of the round.
Baumgardner wins round one.
Baumgardner 10, Beaudoin 9
Round 2
The champion lands the first real punch of the fight about 40 seconds in, a straight right hand that connects with the Canadian’s face.
Baumgardner is exerting control now, getting through Beaudoin’s guard with crisp combinations.
Beaudoin was unable to accomplish anything in that round as Baumgardner’s experience and skill were evident.
The champion wins that round, too.
Baumgardner 20, Beaudoin 18
Round 3
A solid counter right lands from the champion. Baumgardner continues to land the cleaner punches while Beaudoin is having trouble unleashing her punches.
A mouse develops under Beaudoin’s left eye, as the methodical punishment administered by Baumgardner is starting to show.
Another round for Baumgardner.
Baumgardner 30, Beaudoin 27
Round 4
Beaudoin is feeling the urgency created by her swelling eye. But her attempts at aggression are repeatedly met with precision counters by Baumgardner. Neither fighter is landing many punches, however.
Beaudoin goes to the canvas, but it was clearly the result of a push, not a punch.
Beaudoin appears increasingly frustrated as the champion, machine-like, counters everything she attempts.
A fourth round for Baumgardner.
Baumgardner 40, Beaudoin 36
Round 5
Beaudoin’s face is increasingly reddened. Baumgardner looks as fresh as when the fight started.
This fight is getting out of hand, as it becomes clear that Beaudoin is simply not in Baumgardner’s class. The challenger appears as if she will not make it to the end of this 12-round fight.
The shutout continues for the champion.
Baumgardner 50, Beaudoin 45
Round 6
Baumgardner is peppering the Canadian fighter with jabs to open this round. She is punching far more, and far more effectively. The only question here is whether Baumgardner can finish this fight off without going the full 12.
Baumgardner goes to the body of her opponent for the first time, landing a couple of solid combinations to Beaudoin’s midsection.
Baumgardner’s round easily.
Baumgardner 60, Beaudoin 54
Round 7
An overhand right to the side of Beaudoin’s face briefly stuns her. Beaudoin shows some fighting spirit, attempting to punch through Baumgardner’s counters. But her effectiveness is limited.
Knockdown! With one second left in the round. Beaudoin appears completely worn down. A 10-8 round for the champ.
Baumgardner 70, Beaudoin 62
Round 8
Baumgardner starts the round looking like she is going for the knockout. How much longer can Beaudoin last?
Beaudoin resorts to clinching to catch her breath. But it’s hard to see anything saving her now. Baumgardner continues to fight very deliberately, resisting the urge for fireworks.
Baumgardner 80, Beaudoin 71
Round 9
No one can question Beaudoin’s heart. But she is simply outclassed. The fight has taken on a monotonous rhythm, with Baumgardner systematically dismantling her opponent. Blood is trickling from Beaudoin’s nose, in addition to the swelling under both of her eyes.
One more easy round for Baumgardner.
Baumgardner 90, Beaudoin 80
Round 10
Baumgardner is certainly impressive, but she isn’t helping her profile with this very methodical approach. She seems to be pacing herself to avoid exhaustion due to the three-minute rounds rather than the usual two for women’s fights.
Do we need to say who won this round?
Baumgardner 100, Beaudoin 89
Round 11
Give Beaudoin credit. She is continuing to fight and throw punches, or at least attempt to. But she is getting hammered to both the head and the body by Baumgardner. The referee is looking more closely at Beaudoin now.
Beaudoin rallies, finally landing on the champion’s face and getting a body shot in. Not enough to win the round, but she at least got Baumgardner’s attention.
Baumgardner 110, Beaudoin 98
Round 12
Beaudoin needs a knockout and she knows it, going for broke out of her corner. But her right eye appears bloodied, and Baumgardner still lands counters.
Good action in the final round, but too little too late. Beaudoin lasts the distance but gets dominated.
Baumgardner 120, Beaudoin 107
Official decision next.
Two judges score it 117-110 and another 118-109 for Baumgardner, who defends her belts by unanimous decision. The ringside judges were more charitable to Beaudoin than we were, but the result is the same — a one-sided victory for Baumgardner.
Now please scroll up for our live coverage of Paul vs. Joshua.
Preliminary Bout Results
In the opener of the Netflix-streamed main portion of Friday’s card, 2024 United States Olympian and former amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey, in only his second pro fight, dominated previously undefeated Kevin Cervantes in a six-round fight, winning all six rounds easily.
In the second bout of the evening, 50-year-old former MMA fighter Anderson Silva stopped another onetime MMA stalwart, Tyron Woodley, with a knockdown followed by a referee stoppage in the second round. Both Silva and Woodley are previous Paul opponents who were beaten by the YouTuber — Woodley twice.
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: Instant Reaction, Live Round-by-Round Scorecard