MIAMI — The much-talked-about boxing night at the Kaseya Center delivered spectacle, talking points, and above all confirmations. If the main event between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul ended as expected with a sixth-round knockout, the true spark of the evening was the technical and intense battle between Alycia Baumgardner and Leila Beaudoin, far more than just a co-main event.
Joshua vs Paul: Sixth-round KO, low tempo fight but clear conclusion
The bout that closed the night was not high-level boxing, but it offered what many expected from Anthony Joshua’s return against the celebrity fighter Jake Paul. After a slow start in the first two rounds — with Paul circling Joshua and avoiding exchanges — the fight remained flat in rounds three and four, with few clean punches and many clinches. Every time Paul tried to step inside, he often ended up tied up with the more experienced Joshua, unable to build any real offensive continuity.
In the fifth round, Joshua decided it was time to raise the pace, scoring two knockdowns, with only the bell saving Paul from a third. The end came inevitably in the sixth round, when a straight right hand knocked Paul out at 1:31. A decisive victory that nevertheless drew criticism for the overall quality of the contest, once again highlighting the gap between a high-level boxer, even late in his career, and an opponent driven more by media appeal than technical depth.
Baumgardner vs Beaudoin: Real boxing and technical spectacle
If the main event was underwhelming, the co-main event delivered elite-level boxing. Alycia Baumgardner successfully defended her unified WBA, IBF, and WBO super featherweight titles, defeating Leila Beaudoin by unanimous decision after 12 intense and hard-fought rounds.
Beaudoin started well, applying pressure and defending with precision, but Baumgardner gradually took control through pace, varied combinations, and superior management of close-range exchanges. The most critical moment came in the eleventh round, when Beaudoin landed a powerful right hand that briefly shook the champion’s confidence. It was not enough, however, to change the direction of the fight.
The final round was contested until the very last second, with both fighters willing to take risks to finish strong. At the final bell, a long embrace sealed a true, intense, and respectful contest. The final verdict — unanimous decision (117-110, 117-110, 118-109) — confirmed Baumgardner as the undisputed champion after one of the most convincing performances of her career.
Other results from the Kaseya Center card
Beyond the two headline fights, the card featured several notable bouts, with a strong focus on women’s boxing and emerging talents.
🥊 Anderson Silva vs Tyron Woodley
Former MMA champion Anderson Silva defeated Tyron Woodley by second-round TKO, showing precision and solid ring control in his boxing outing.
🥊 Jahmal Harvey vs Kevin Cervantes
Young super featherweight Jahmal Harvey earned a unanimous decision (60-53) over Kevin Cervantes, confirming his steady development.
🥊 Cherneka Johnson vs Amanda Galle
In the women’s bantamweight title bout, Cherneka Johnson successfully defended her undisputed status with a points victory over Amanda Galle.
🥊 Caroline Dubois vs Camila Panatta
Champion Caroline Dubois retained her WBC lightweight title, dominating Camila Panatta on points with a performance built on technique, control, and clean punching.
🥊 Yokasta Valle vs Yadira Bustillos
In the women’s minimumweight division, Yokasta Valle defended her WBC title with a majority decision over Bustillos in a competitive and hard-fought bout.
🥊 Avious Griffin vs Justin Cardona
On the undercard, Avious Griffin scored a first-round knockout against Justin Cardona.
🥊 Keno Marley vs Diarra Davis Jr.
Brazilian Keno Marley, making his professional debut, won on points against Diarra Davis Jr., showing solid athletic fundamentals.
