Joshua Stops Paul
On December 19, 2025, the sporting world converged on Miami for the highly anticipated Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day. Hosted at the electric Kaseya Center and streamed live to over 300 million members on Netflix, the event delivered on its massive hype. Heavyweight titan Anthony Joshua secured the victory, but the narrative quickly shifted. Instead of ridicule, Jake Paul earned begrudging respect from the boxing establishment for surviving deep waters against a certified knockout machine.
Anthony Joshua Praises Paul’s Toughness
Although Joshua left the ring with his hand raised, he admitted the fight demanded serious focus. He credited Paul for stepping up where many professional boxers have refused to go. “Jake has spirit. He has some heart,” Joshua stated candidly during the post-fight press conference.
Furthermore, Joshua noted that even after getting knocked down heavily, Paul kept trying to rise. However, Joshua, ever the perfectionist, called the win “not a success” because he expects flawless execution from himself. He admitted he wanted to land more body shots earlier but ultimately found a home for his crushing right hand to end the show.
The Reality of the Size Difference
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian emphasized that the outcome wasn’t solely about skill gaps. Instead, the sheer size disparity played a decisive role in the later rounds. According to Bidarian, Joshua’s heavy weight leaning on Paul during the clinches drained the younger fighter’s energy.
“AJ talked about… taking out the man’s soul. He didn’t take out his soul. He did take out his energy,” Bidarian explained. Additionally, he shut down online conspiracy theories about the fight being “rigged,” pointing to the genuine danger Paul faced and the global #RespectForJakePaul trend that followed the bout.
Baumgardner and Dubois Make History
The undercard featured a groundbreaking milestone for women’s boxing. Alycia Baumgardner successfully defended her titles in a historic 12-round, three-minute fight, a format previously reserved for men. “I made history,” Baumgardner declared, asserting her status as the best female fighter in the game.
Meanwhile, British phenom Caroline Dubois made her US debut, sparking immediate friction. Baumgardner dismissed Dubois as a “puppy” needing “potty training” before challenging the champ, setting the stage for a massive future rivalry.
A New Era for Live Sports
From Anderson Silva fighting at age 50 to Eddie Hearn praising Paul’s chin, the night was a total spectacle. Hearn noted that Joshua’s final shot would have hospitalized many natural heavyweights. As Joshua eyes a future Tyson Fury bout, MVP and Netflix have once again proven they dominate culture-defining sports events.
