Joshua stops Paul in sixth round of Miami mismatch

Anthony Joshua, a British heavyweight, needed six rounds to stop boxing novice Jake Paul, who spent much of the contest in survival mode in one of the sport's most bizarre mismatches in history. Joshua became a tense figure as Paul refused to participate by dancing around the ring for long stretches before the two-time world champion imposed himself by knocking down the YouTuber-turned-boxer twice in the fifth round. In the sixth, Paul was down again before Joshua landed a strong and clean right hand that brought a surreal night to a close at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The American did not beat the count, and there was palpable relief inside when he was able to stand up to his feet and leave the arena without assistance. Joshua, 36, said, It wasn't the best show in the end.

The end of the game was to pin Jake Paul down and hurt him. The right hand found the destination a little longer than expected, but it took a bit longer than anticipated.

It was the result that the boxing industry had overwhelmingly predicted,

the boxer had expected, and the recent case has raised concerns about the dangers that such a large gap in experience, size, and power poses. Joshua won his third outings of his career in 33 outing and now faces a more challenging challenge, most notably Tyson Fury's long-awaited showdown next year.

Come and fight one of the 'realest' fighters out there, and if you're a bad boy, join me next time. " Joshua told his rival. Paul, on the other hand, failed to keep up on his pledge to put off the biggest surprise in sports history. The 28-year-old spent a large portion of the contest tumbling to the ground and clutching at Joshua's legs, a reminder of the two-stone weight difference and how hard he did not cope with it. Paul did manage to land a few shots in the sixth round, however, and Joshua's inclusion in the tournament was an unflattering reflection on Joshua.

Frustrated Joshua finally lands big

Joshua walked to the ring first and was given a mixed reception inside the 20,000-seat arena. His demeanor was stern, reflecting his insistence that the contest be taken seriously all week. When Paul was flanked by rapper 6ix9ine, a notorious figure with a history of criminal convictions and prison time, his ringwalk raised eyebrows. As the bell rang, Paul circled on the back foot and boos followed shortly. Joshua stalked him, swinging heavy lefts and rights that cut only air, with each missant attracting gasps from the crowd. When going to the theatre, Paul responded by sticking out his tongue. Every passing minute seemed to be a small victory for Paul, who had just 13 months ago defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson. In the fourth, he did land a looping overhand right, but it was only with Joshua that it was noticed. More than 300 million Netflix followers were able to watch the game live on Netflix. Rory McIlroy, the year's best-winner of golf, sat ringside with rappers Rick Ross and Timbaland. Many people had awaited far earlier in the fifth round. Paul was greeted by a right hook who led him to the canvas. Moments later, a combination dropped him again. He soared quickly and was coughing hard as he tried to mask the pain with bravado. Paul sprawled once more in the sixth session, prompting calls from sections of the crowd for the referee to step in. Many who watched Joshua's brutal one-punch knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou earlier this year felt a familiar conclusion. It wasn't quite as violent, but it did land flush, with Joshua's punch being waited for all night.

AJ eyes Fury, Paul targets cruiserweight title

This was not a competition meant to objectively assess Joshua's boxing skills. It was entertainment, engineered to bring attention and sales.

I don't care about the legacy. All the legacy is there to last 50 years, but it hasn't ended.

I do this and I'll do it until I can't any more,

Joshua said. Joshua will leave Miami with his share of a reported £210 million, and his attention is now expected to shift to another warm-up foe in February before a potential showdown with Fury later this year. Paul, on the other hand, admitted he

got beat up,

but he promised to return and try a cruiserweight world championship.

I think my jaw is broken.

I'll come back and get a world championship belt at some point,

he said. Paul, whether you like him or not, draws audiences, newspaper, and discussion in a way that few boxers can. The fact that he convinced certain segments of the public that this fight might be competitive speaks volumes about his popularity as a promoter, even though he was not found out as merely a boxer.