British heavyweight Anthony Joshua has knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round to bring a swift end to a heavily criticised and one-sided bout at Miami's Kaseya Center.
Joshua delivered the emphatic outcome most observers had predicted, overpowering the boxing novice after Paul spent much of the fight in survival mode in what many described as one of the most uneven match-ups in recent boxing history.
For long stretches, Paul circled the ring and refused to engage, drawing boos from the crowd as Joshua stalked him patiently, loading up heavy shots that initially failed to land.
The two-time world champion cut a frustrated figure early on, but his persistence paid off in the fifth round when he finally imposed his authority.
A sharp right sent Paul to the canvas before a follow-up combination dropped him again moments later, signalling the beginning of the end.
Paul was floored once more in the sixth round before Joshua landed a clean and powerful right hand that brought the spectacle to an abrupt conclusion. The American failed to beat the count, although there was visible relief inside the 20,000-seat arena when he rose and left the ring without assistance.
"It wasn't the best performance," Joshua, 36, said, BBC reported.
"The end goal was to pin Jake Paul down and hurt him. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found the destination."
The result secured the 29th victory of Joshua's professional career in 33 fights, allowing him to turn his attention to more credible opposition, including the long-discussed heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury next year.
"Come and fight one of the 'realest' fighters out there," Joshua said. "Step in there with me next if you're a really bad boy."
Paul, 28, failed to deliver on his promise to produce the greatest upset in sports history. He struggled throughout, repeatedly tumbling to the canvas and clutching at Joshua's legs, exposing the stark gap in size, power, and experience between the two fighters.
Although Paul landed a handful of punches, including a looping right in the fourth round, the fact that the contest reached the sixth round was viewed by many as an unflattering reflection on Joshua's performance.
The bout, broadcast live to more than 300 million Netflix subscribers, attracted a star-studded audience, including golfer Rory McIlroy and rappers Rick Ross and Timbaland.