Ali Akbar RosadyAnthony Joshua, the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion, delivered a brutal sixth-round knockout against Jake Paul on Friday night, a victory that left Paul with a broken jaw in two places. Yet, in a post-fight press conference that underscored the demanding standards of elite boxing, Joshua expressed profound dissatisfaction with his performance, stating he was "not happy" and had expected more from himself. This self-critique followed his return to the ring after over a year’s absence and a previous knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in August 2023, placing significant scrutiny on his comeback.
Joshua’s candid assessment highlighted a persistent drive for perfection, a characteristic often observed in top-tier athletes. "No, I needed to do better," Joshua stated, reflecting on the bout. "It’s a win but it’s not a success. I think my coach expects more from me and I expect more from myself. But what can we do? We can’t reverse the clocks. We have to move forward. I have to put that in the past now." His remarks indicate a focus on technical and strategic execution beyond merely securing a victory, particularly against an opponent whose professional boxing career began significantly later than his own. The former Olympic gold medalist also dismissed the transient nature of online engagement, adding, "After today, you might see a bit of social media, trying to lap up all of the algorithm attention but for me, it’s in the past. I can’t live off of that win. I’ve got a lot of improving I need to do. I’m not happy." This statement provided insight into his mindset, prioritizing long-term development over immediate celebratory acclaim.
The context of Friday’s fight carried immense pressure for Joshua. His recent professional record, prior to this bout, had been mixed. Following his undisputed reign, Joshua suffered two consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, losing his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles. While he rebounded with a victory over Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, the subsequent knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, a fighter with a 21-2 record at the time, had raised questions about his trajectory and resilience. Entering the ring against Jake Paul, a fighter with a comparatively nascent professional record of 9-2 (before this fight), Joshua was an overwhelming favourite. Paul, whose boxing journey began in 2020, had built a significant following and a respectable record by defeating various MMA fighters and fellow YouTubers, but had yet to face a traditional, elite-level boxer of Joshua’s calibre. The disparity in experience, with Joshua having competed in 32 professional bouts prior to this fight, meant that anything less than a decisive victory would have been perceived as a significant setback for the British star.
"There was a lot riding on this fight," Joshua admitted. "A lot of pressure. A lot of expectations. I had to perform. A lot of people doubt me. A lot of people don’t respect me. There’s a lot of pressure. I had boxing on my back today and that was what it was really." This sentiment underscores the unique burden on established professional boxers when facing crossover celebrities. Joshua was not only fighting for his individual record but, in the eyes of many purists, for the integrity and reputation of professional boxing itself against the rising tide of influencer-led events. His commitment to the sport was evident in his preparation. "I took Jake as serious as I needed to but most importantly, I take myself as serious as I need to. I respect myself. I respect boxing. I know what it takes to get in the ring. You have to be prepared. One slip up could cost you in that ring. Credit to Jake."
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Joshua maintained a notably respectful demeanour towards Paul throughout the post-fight discourse, a stance he acknowledged might not have been reciprocated had the outcome been reversed. "If he would have beaten me, he would bash me," Joshua observed, referencing Paul’s often provocative public persona. "You know that right? Imagine him up here now, they would have torn me and Eddie [Hearn] apart. But I’m not going to do that to Jake. I’m going to give him the credit." This professionalism stood in contrast to the typical pre-fight rhetoric often associated with Paul’s events.
However, Joshua did offer a cautionary assessment of Paul’s heavyweight aspirations. "But if he wants to stay at the top level at heavyweight, he needs to work harder because it’s very difficult. It’s a very difficult division to reign in." The heavyweight division, historically considered boxing’s glamour division, demands not only power and size but also sophisticated technique, defensive prowess, and a robust chin. Paul’s previous opponents, while offering varying degrees of challenge, generally did not possess the comprehensive skill set of an elite heavyweight. His most significant boxing challenge prior to Joshua was a split-decision loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023, a fight that, while competitive, showcased the gulf between Paul and traditionally trained boxers even at a developing stage.
Immediately following his defeat, Jake Paul announced his intention to move down to the cruiserweight division (200 lbs/90.7 kg), signalling a strategic shift away from the demands of heavyweight boxing. This decision, while not unexpected given the physical disparity in his fight against Joshua, was further elaborated upon by Joshua himself, who suggested Paul might need to consider an even more drastic weight class reduction for future success.
Joshua praised Paul’s resilience, acknowledging his determination despite the significant power difference. "Jake has spirit," Joshua stated. "He has some heart. He tried his best and I take my hat off to him because No. 1, a lot of fighters haven’t got in the ring with me and Jake did and secondly even when he got knocked down, he kept on trying to get up and I take my hat off to him." This recognition of Paul’s courage underscores the risks involved for any fighter stepping into the ring.
Building on this, Joshua then offered intriguing, albeit speculative, advice for Paul’s long-term career. "So America, I think you have someone who could potentially – if he still has the heart for it – come back again, dust the dust off his shoulder and come again and maybe sell out this center sometime in 2026. Maybe against a Gervonta Davis, a Ryan Garcia, who knows." This suggestion is particularly noteworthy given that Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) and Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) are prominent figures in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions, typically competing at 135 lbs (61.2 kg) and 140 lbs (63.5 kg), respectively. For Paul, a fighter who has primarily competed at cruiserweight (200 lbs) or catchweights slightly above, a fight against either Davis or Garcia would necessitate an unprecedented weight cut or an extremely complex catchweight agreement, potentially involving significant rehydration clauses. Such matchups would represent a stark departure from conventional boxing, likely being framed as novelty or exhibition bouts rather than competitive professional contests. The proposed timeline of "sometime in 2026" also suggests a period of significant development and strategic planning would be required for Paul to even consider such an undertaking.
For Anthony Joshua, despite his self-critical assessment, the victory over Paul marks a crucial step in his bid to re-establish himself at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. With a professional record now standing at 29-3 (27 KOs), the focus shifts to his next opponent and the path towards another world title shot. Potential opponents include a highly anticipated clash with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs), a rematch with Daniel Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) to avenge his recent loss, or a unification bout against the winner of upcoming major heavyweight contests. His performance, while critiqued by Joshua himself, demonstrated his formidable power and ability to finish fights, attributes essential for success in the heavyweight landscape. The coming months will reveal whether Joshua’s internal dissatisfaction fuels a renewed intensity that propels him back to championship contention, or if his high standards continue to overshadow his accomplishments.
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