Jake Paul’s ultimately doomed strategy against Anthony Joshua on Friday night didn’t earn him any new fans. In fact, it didn’t even impress the impartial fight observers in the house.
Paul was admonished by referee Christopher Young midway through the fourth round of the heavyweight bout after attempting to draw out the fight by continually appearing to slip or throw his body at the much-larger Joshua. If Paul’s idea was to run the clock down, it was obvious to everyone watching. As boos from the fans in the arena began growing louder, Young paused the fight to deliver an expletive-laden warning to the fighters.
“The fans didn’t pay to see this [expletive],” Young shouted.
MORE PAUL VS. JOSHUA: The purse and salaries for the Netflix fight
“THE FANS DIDN’T PAY TO SEE THIS CRAP.”
THE REF TO JAKE PAUL AND ANTHONY JOSHUA 😨
LIVE NOW ONLY ON NETFLIX! #JakeJoshuapic.twitter.com/T56lwxTuEh
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) December 20, 2025
Even the announcers had to applaud Young’s comments. Fortunately, no one had to endure Paul’s strategy much longer. Joshua dropped Paul twice in the fifth round before putting Paul on the mat for good in the sixth with a punch Paul claimed broke his jaw.
THE REF HAS SEEN ENOUGH!!!
ANTHONY JOSHUA GETS THE KO AGAINST JAKE PAUL IN ROUND 6! #JakeJoshuapic.twitter.com/m5Y2VJ8to3
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) December 20, 2025
That, actually, is what most fans paid to see.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jake Paul fight halted by ref’s NSFW warning
