Round-by-Round: Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul | NETFLIX - 19 December 2025

[tigermoth87]

lmfao and people actually thought it was gonna be real.

Went exactly how I thought. A pitter patter sparring match with AJ carrying Paul so he looks credible before finishing it with a decent half-power punch that he pulled.

I find this an interesting perspective. You think it’s faked cool. But so the bombs aj threw early that just missed, you think they are so good at the script they can miss by mms?

I didn’t see aj carry him at all. I saw an aj who was underprepared thinking his right hand would just get it done best and eventually stop a very negative Paul.

I didn't bother watching. If I wanted to watch a fake fight I'd watch WWF.

The fact it lasted until the 6th round is proof enough the fight was fake. AJ is a former heavyweight champion--and not two decades past his prime like OAP Tyson. If he can't squash a YouTuber in a round, two at the most, then it's a clear fix.

[TheLeprechaun]

It didn’t look fake to me, JP ran and AJ couldn’t land. Lots of HWs just stand in front of the other guy so it’s easier to get a knockout and look devastating doing it.

AJ was definitely holding shots and I thought I noticed a time or two when he could have taken a shot but didn't. However, most heavyweights don't move as much as Paul and it is hard to deal with a negative runner. Look at Charlie Edwards literally running all night against Andrew Cain. Shocking that it's called boxing when it's sheer running and negativity. Paul was looking for an overhand. The fight was pretty much over when he landed his right swing and sent the sweat spraying from AJ's head, only for AJ to show no reaction and continue to march forward. Paul deteriorated badly from then and was mentally beaten at that moment as he had banked on AJ's weak chin crumbling once he landed his right hand.

[tigermoth87]

lmfao just watched the highlights. A gassed Jake Paul staggering around the ring like a pisshead from Round 4 onward, falling over constantly and AJ doing his best to carry him as long as possible by NOT unloading whilst his arms are down by his side

And saps think this was real?

[Grilling Machine]

the bombs aj threw early that just missed, you think they are so good at the script they can miss by mms?

Joshua's good enough to time falling short against a predictable opponent, absolutely. The danger was a mistake had he misread Paul's retreative movements, generally aiming low to minimise risk. Most of his 'big' shots were wide telegraphed arcs on static feet, even taking backward steps with his jab to afford Paul escape room. He could've trapped Paul and unloaded at will almost, and had he not pulled that last shot it would've been Jackson-Graham level. Ask Ngannou.

(We were talking about fights where the names worked both ways the other day: Jackson Graham and Graham Jackson!)

[Kilburn]

I said it before the fight, people don’t like to admit when they’re wrong.

Now the fight has happened and we’ve all seen it, if can’t shake your belief that this was a fake fight not least because you were so vocal about it beforehand, I’d seriously question your overall judgement.

[MasterG]

Terrible 'fight' AJ was certainly carrying Paul. Surely there was a script for AJ to entertain the crowd for 20 minutes by doing next to nowt.

It's embarrassing to believe that AJ let it go as far as it did. He never bothered to close Paul down and stop the fight in the first.

JP gave us a clue of the scriped fight right in front of us with his Hulkamania attire.

Only in America

[gregregegg]

lmfao and people actually thought it was gonna be real.

Went exactly how I thought. A pitter patter sparring match with AJ carrying Paul so he looks credible before finishing it with a decent half-power punch that he pulled.

I find this an interesting perspective. You think it’s faked cool. But so the bombs aj threw early that just missed, you think they are so good at the script they can miss by mms?

I didn’t see aj carry him at all. I saw an aj who was underprepared thinking his right hand would just get it done best and eventually stop a very negative Paul.

I didn't bother watching. If I wanted to watch a fake fight I'd watch WWF.

The fact it lasted until the 6th round is proof enough the fight was fake. AJ is a former heavyweight champion--and not two decades past his prime like OAP Tyson. If he can't squash a YouTuber in a round, two at the most, then it's a clear fix.

so you didnt watch it but you claim it went how you think and its fixed.... How long does jake have to box befor you consider him a boxer not a youtuber? he started in 2018... 7 years ago.

After 7 years of boxing AJ was an olympic gold medalist and was the top heavyweight prospect in boxing (basicaly about where moses is now)...

after 7 years of boxing wilder was an olympic medalist and 25-0 as a pro....

Forman won his first amature fight in 67... won olympic gold in 68, and within 7 years was about 30-0 and beating joe fraizer for the world title...

Paul isnt the levle of athlete of those guys, and his fighting path hasnt been as good. but he has unlimited resorces, quality coaching, probably roids, and years of dedication... seriously at what point do you call him a boxer? will he ever be world champ? nah, but you cant just dismiss him forever...

[samwbr]

Snapped his jaw in 2 places

[Grilling Machine]

If it was real I'd imagine only from Paul's perspective, with AJ either taking it easy by instruction or a personal sense of responsibility. If you're not a bully there is a disinclination to embarrass an opponent, but given the fight happened makes me believe there were agreed safeguards.

AJ smiled before his coup de grace as Paul lingered like a drunk who'd just let go of a doorway.

[handsofstone]

That was woeful especially from Joshua who still you expect to lay Paul to waste but he didn't, he got there in the end but still pretty embarrassing spectacle, Paul was frustrating him, constantly moving never staying still, any time Joshua would partially land or look like he was about to land Paul would throw himself to the canvas, no interest in winning, Joshua found the breakthrough in the 5th had Paul down twice, both scrappy and again a case of Jake throwing himself down, the first knockdown in the 6th was pretty much the same, Jake did lose all confidence you seen the wheels come off rapidly, the right hand for the last KD was the best punch of the fight, infact it was the only clean punch of the fight, conclusive enough ending but Joshua was terrible and Paul fought scared

[Kilburn]

I knew this would happen, nothing other than Joshua chasing after JP two-fisted like a man possessed from the opening bell, was going to satisfy the conspiracy gang.

AJ took his time, didn’t waste too much energy missing with loaded up punches on an extremely mobile target, and after a few rounds delivered the finisher on a softened up opponent. That’s kind of what AJ does, if you’ve watched him before.

[MasterG]

I find this an interesting perspective. You think it’s faked cool. But so the bombs aj threw early that just missed, you think they are so good at the script they can miss by mms?

I didn’t see aj carry him at all. I saw an aj who was underprepared thinking his right hand would just get it done best and eventually stop a very negative Paul.

I didn't bother watching. If I wanted to watch a fake fight I'd watch WWF.

The fact it lasted until the 6th round is proof enough the fight was fake. AJ is a former heavyweight champion--and not two decades past his prime like OAP Tyson. If he can't squash a YouTuber in a round, two at the most, then it's a clear fix.

so you didnt watch it but you claim it went how you think and its fixed.... How long does jake have to box befor you consider him a boxer not a youtuber? he started in 2018... 7 years ago.

After 7 years of boxing AJ was an olympic gold medalist and was the top heavyweight prospect in boxing (basicaly about where moses is now)...

after 7 years of boxing wilder was an olympic medalist and 25-0 as a pro....

Forman won his first amature fight in 67... won olympic gold in 68, and within 7 years was about 30-0 and beating joe fraizer for the world title...

Paul isnt the levle of athlete of those guys, and his fighting path hasnt been as good. but he has unlimited resorces, quality coaching, probably roids, and years of dedication... seriously at what point do you call him a boxer? will he ever be world champ? nah, but you cant just dismiss him forever...

The fact is you don't put an area level boxer at best in with a genuine ex world heavyweight champion who possibly still can beat elite heavyweights and not expect responses of fix. JP is a boxer yes, in some form or other, but not capable of beating mediocre genuine heavyweight boxers

JP knows how to sell to make money, others in that category of selling to make money is Derek Del Boy Trotter, but I wouldn't put him in with a heavyweight boxer.

[Grilling Machine]

I knew this would happen, nothing other than Joshua chasing after JP two-fisted like a man possessed from the opening bell, was going to satisfy the conspiracy gang.

AJ took his time, didn’t waste too much energy missing with loaded up punches on an extremely mobile target, and after a few rounds delivered the finisher on a softened up opponent. That’s kind of what AJ does, if you’ve watched him before.

The contention is that Paul would've stopped being mobile and frozen in fear had AJ cornered him and unloaded. The risk to AJ would've been so minimal in a firefight. Usyk couldn't stop him.

Supposing they had a real fight, could you see Paul making it out of the first against Chisora, say?

[edit]

Actually, I was gonna mention Wardley and that reminded me of this:



Total cruise control when he knew his opponent was badly outmatched. Wherever this kayfabe argument lands, I'm certain AJ was playing with his food at the very least.

[mickey1975]

I had it 3-2 AJ before JP's cardio let him down.

[mickey1975]

Rico Verhoven keeps getting mentioned for Feb.

[Kilburn]

I knew this would happen, nothing other than Joshua chasing after JP two-fisted like a man possessed from the opening bell, was going to satisfy the conspiracy gang.

AJ took his time, didn’t waste too much energy missing with loaded up punches on an extremely mobile target, and after a few rounds delivered the finisher on a softened up opponent. That’s kind of what AJ does, if you’ve watched him before.

The contention is that Paul would've stopped being mobile and frozen in fear had AJ cornered him and unloaded. The risk to AJ would've been so minimal in a firefight. Usyk couldn't stop him.

Supposing they had a real fight, could you see Paul making it out of the first against Chisora, say?

[edit]

Actually, I was gonna mention Wardley and that reminded me of this:



Total cruise control when he knew his opponent was badly outmatched. Wherever this kayfabe argument lands, I'm certain AJ was playing with his food at the very least.

It was never about the risk of getting chinned for Joshua, he has demonstrated time again that does not like to load up and miss punches if he doesn’t need to. Despite all the area level talk, JP is actually pretty good at not getting hit, until he tires.

[JC]

It was never about the risk of getting chinned for Joshua, he has demonstrated time again that does not like to load up and miss punches if he doesn’t need to. Despite all the area level talk, JP is actually pretty good at not getting hit, until he tires.

Pretty much how I see it. I was expecting Paul to run for his life. The other option for Joshua would have been to big man him more and it make uglier and he probably would have clubbed him down sooner. But that’s not really his game, at least not this version of Joshua.

[Kilburn]

It was never about the risk of getting chinned for Joshua, he has demonstrated time again that does not like to load up and miss punches if he doesn’t need to. Despite all the area level talk, JP is actually pretty good at not getting hit, until he tires.

Pretty much how I see it. I was expecting Paul to run for his life. The other option for Joshua would have been to big man him more and it make uglier and he probably would have clubbed him down sooner. But that’s not really his game, at least not this version of Joshua.

Yes, don’t get me wrong, there were some moments early on where I thought Joshua should be doing more in the clinch if the ref isn’t calling break, given he was struggling to land anything on the outside. But in the end AJ had a minimal fuss stoppage which he must have been 100% confident he’d get.

[keithmoonhangover]

It was awful, but it was always going to be. Jake literally running at times, AJ missing, but got the job done.

People saying AJ has diminished his legacy, but this fight will have zero bearing when he steps in the ring with Fury. Ultimately, he'll be remembered as an Olympic gold medallist, two time unified champion and one of the top guys of his era. Last night won't change that. Afterall, no one other than absolute boxing nerds talk about Joe Louis fighting Johnny Davis.

[Twinkle Toes]

I don't think it was fake or scripted, but it was poor from Joshua. Six rounds?

There is little positive to take away from it, There is a good chance he wont fight February now with this going 6 and it being only an 8 week turn around.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I bet Jake wishes it was only 6 rounds now haha

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Frostieballs]

I’m feeling pretty positive, all things considered. Joshua patiently did what he typically does, softened the guy up, finished with a strong shot, and didn’t get cut in the process.

JP turned up, did his best as a smaller guy with suspect stamina, and didn’t get himself knocked unconscious.

So yeah, I’ll take that.

Also my take - and you called it right about Jake Paul back pedalling.

[revporl]

I thought AJ looked very slow and was missing a lot. He also looked a bit top heavy compared to normal. JP just got completely gassed, with better cardio he could have kept running and lasted the distance. I've a bit more respect for JP given the interview after, he's under no illusions - apart from thinking he can win a CW title.

I think a half fit fury would absolutely run rings around AJ and stop him at will given the form of AJ yesterday.

[joshj909]

I had it 3-2 AJ before JP's cardio let him down.