Anthony Joshua admits he wanted time to resolve if he wished to hold on boxing after his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024. The reply? He does.
The 2-time heavyweight world champion marked his return to the ring with a sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on Friday night time.
Joshua instantly adopted up the win by reiterating his need to struggle Tyson Fury in a long-awaited all-British showdown.
Anthony Joshua requires a blockbuster conflict with Tyson Fury after his win over Jake Paul. Jake vs Joshua is now out there to look at globally solely on Netflix
“I had a troublesome defeat in 2024 and I simply wish to choose up and transfer ahead once more,” mentioned Joshua. “So yeah, I am glad that I obtained again within the ring and I discovered that that is the place I wish to be.
“It was an actual take a look at for me to determine if I nonetheless wish to proceed or not, and this was a great eye-opener that that is the place I wish to be, that I wish to get again within the ring and go once more.”
Joshua’s return was unorthodox, a bout between him and Paul rising as probably the most controversial within the period of crossover clashes.
Nonetheless, Paul barely laid a glove on the previous Olympic champion earlier than struggling a double jaw-break from Joshua’s devastating end.
“I wanted to do higher. I wanted to do higher,” mentioned Joshua after the struggle. “Yeah, it is a win, nevertheless it’s not successful. I believe my coach expects extra from me, and I count on extra from myself.
“However what can we do? We will not reverse the clocks. I’ve to maneuver ahead. I’ve to place that previously now.
“After right now, you might even see a little bit of social media attempting to lap up all the algorithm consideration, however for me, it is previously. I am unable to reside off of that win. I’ve obtained a variety of enchancment I must do. So, yeah, I am not completely happy.”
Highlights of AJ’s win. Jake vs Joshua is now out there to look at globally solely on Netflix
In the course of the build-up to the struggle Joshua had willingly accepted a duty to signify the game of boxing whereas looking for to finish the ‘Jake Paul Present’, the social media sensation having fought each Mike Tyson and Julio César Chávez Jr. in his earlier two fights.
“There was so much using on this struggle. Numerous strain, a variety of expectations, so I needed to carry out,” he mentioned. “Lots of people doubt me. I noticed (WBC President) Mauricio Sulaiman put an image up of Jake, he do not put an image up of me.
“Lots of people do not respect me so there’s a variety of strain, and I had boxing on my again, and that was what it was actually, I took Jake as severe as I wanted to, however most significantly, I take myself as severe as I must. I respect myself, I respect boxing.”
Joshua’s subsequent steps had been unclear and unsure after he was sensationally stopped by Dubois within the fifth spherical of an exhilarating struggle at Tottenham. It will take the next 12 months to reset and regroup in view of his subsequent goal, notably working with Oleksandr Usyk’s workforce forward of his struggle with Paul.
One of the best bits from Joshua’s post-fight press convention. Jake vs Joshua is now out there to look at globally solely on Netflix
“I used to be attempting to fall again in love with boxing,” he mentioned. Should you’re a household man, I realised that I used to be working away from dwelling, I needed to sort of search for the choices I used to be making, and I needed to come again dwelling to boxing, and I needed to sacrifice. I had to try my life, make mandatory adjustments to place my love again to the game.
“This sport is unforgiving, in the event you do not give 100 per cent consideration, these belts might be torn away from you and be placed on another person’s waist, who provides it a love and a spotlight that boxing wants – and I wasn’t giving it sufficient love and a spotlight.
“It wasn’t that I stepped away as a result of I did not wish to struggle, I stepped away as a result of I knew if I’ll be in boxing, I have to be 100 per cent and that is what it was.
“I gave myself a 12 months. I mentioned, ‘I’ll give myself a 12 months’ and on September 21, 2025 the 12 months was completed. We usually do a 12-week coaching camp, September 21, October 21, November 21, December 19 – three months of coaching, and we get straight again within the ring.
“For me, it was an ideal plan, and I do not wish to begin shedding my focus now and go and begin socialising, and let’s get lit, you are popping proper now.”
