Anthony Joshua has issued a direct challenge to Tyson Fury, demanding the Gypsy King back up his words with action, following a dominant comeback victory over Jake Paul in Miami.
Joshua's Ruthless Return to the Ring
Ending a 15-month layoff from professional boxing, Anthony Joshua secured a brutal sixth-round knockout of YouTube star turned fighter Jake Paul. The bout, held on Saturday 20 December 2025, saw AJ overcome a slow start before systematically breaking down his opponent. The decisive blow resulted in a broken jaw for Paul, forcing the referee to stop the contest.
"It wasn't the best performance," Joshua admitted in his post-fight interview. "The end goal was to get Paul, pin him down and hurt him. That was on my mind, it took longer than expected." Despite the decisive finish, Joshua paid respect to Paul's resilience, stating: "He got up, time and time again. He tried and tried, but he came up against a real fighter in there."
The Fury Ultimatum: 'Talk With Your Fists'
With the business against Paul concluded, Joshua immediately turned his attention to the long-standing feud with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury. Fury had been vocally critical of Joshua in the build-up to the Miami fight, and AJ responded with a fiery ultimatum for a blockbuster clash in 2026.
"If Tyson is as serious as he is, if he wants to put on some gloves, take a challenge, don't give all that talking, AJ this, AJ that," Joshua declared. "Let's see you talk with your fists." Reports suggest a potential showdown, brokered by Riyadh Season chief Turki Alalshikh, is already in the works for the coming year.
Paul's Reaction and Future Plans
Jake Paul was magnanimous in defeat, confirming the severity of the injury sustained. "I got my arse beat. But I'll come back and keep winning," Paul said. "My jaw is broken by the way, it's definitely broke, nice little arse whooping from one of the best to ever do it."
Paul attributed the loss to fatigue from handling Joshua's superior size and power, suggesting better cardio could have extended the fight. Looking ahead, he confirmed his intention to return to the cruiserweight division to pursue a world title, once his jaw has healed.
The stage is now set for what could be the biggest all-British heavyweight fight in a generation. With Joshua back to winning ways and Fury awaiting his next move, the boxing world's focus shifts squarely to a grudge match that has been years in the making.
