Jake Paul entered his Netflix main-event bout against Anthony Joshua with just one loss on his record, but the challenge was always going to be a steep one. The former two-time unified heavyweight champion proved to be far too much for the influencer-turned-boxer, especially given the significant weight disparity.
Unable to keep pace as the fight progressed, Paul was ultimately stopped by a knockout in the sixth round, suffering a broken jaw in the process. The bout sparked widespread reaction across the sports world, with former and current NBA players weighing in, including Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, who didn’t hold back with a pointed remark directed at Paul.
NBA World Reacts to Jake Paul’s KO Loss
Paul suffered the first knockout loss of his boxing career in Friday’s Netflix main-event bout, and it was a brutal one. Joshua knocked Paul down four times before landing a decisive right hand in the sixth round that left him bloodied and with a broken jaw.
Garnett summed up the one-sided nature of the fight with a vivid boxing reference.
“Lord… that looked like Martin and Hitman Hearns ,” Garnett wrote, comparing the bout to classic mismatches involving Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, one of the most feared punchers in boxing history.
Lord… that looked like Martin and Hitman Hearns
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) December 20, 2025
Paul was originally scheduled to face lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a Nov. 14 exhibition bout at a 195-pound catchweight, but that fight was canceled. Instead of sitting out, Paul opted to step up and face Joshua at a much heavier weight, giving up a 27.4-pound advantage despite moving up himself.
The decision drew mixed reactions. Paul struggled with movement and pace throughout the fight, a fact he later acknowledged; yet, many still found his durability noteworthy. Despite absorbing heavy blows, Paul managed to last six rounds, which impressed some observers, including former NBA star Dwight Howard.
“Jake you a strong man ,” Howard wrote.
Jake you a strong man https://t.co/1UrSKNaJFm
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) December 20, 2025
Former NBA defensive standout Metta Sandiford-Artest echoed that sentiment, saying his respect for Paul had grown. “@jakepaul is incredible. I definitely respect what he has done,” he wrote.
@jakepaul is incredible. I definitely respect what he has done.
— Coach Metta (@MettaWorld37) December 20, 2025
Paul was widely viewed as overmatched against Joshua, but the spectacle still caught attention across the sports world. Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal reacted to the outcome with a tongue-in-cheek comment, seemingly poking fun at conspiracy theories surrounding Paul’s fights.
“Yeah anthony joshua #what script,” O’Neal commented.
Not everyone was impressed, however. Former Indiana Pacers guard Edmond Sumner dismissed the bout as little more than a financial spectacle.
“This didn’t prove anything. Waste of time. Great job robbing the bank, fellas. 100 M’s,” Sumner wrote.
According to reports, the fight carried a massive prize pool of $184 million, with both fighters agreeing to an equal split of $92 million each.
Despite the lopsided result, the bout once again underscored Paul’s ability to generate enormous attention and revenue, even in defeat. Undeterred by the broken jaw, Paul said he plans to return to the ring and continue adding to the win column of his now 12–2 professional record.
