Anthony Joshua has issued a direct challenge to Tyson Fury following a gruelling six-round victory over social media star turned boxer Jake Paul in Miami on Saturday, 20 December 2025.
A Hard-Fought Victory
Despite entering the ring as the overwhelming favourite, the former heavyweight world champion was made to work far harder than anticipated against a determined but outmatched opponent. Joshua, who had been out of action for a 15-month layoff since his loss to Daniel Dubois, struggled to find his range early on as Paul proved surprisingly elusive.
The fight turned decisively in the fifth round when Joshua dropped Paul twice, before finally securing a knockout in the sixth. The win did little to suggest Joshua is immediately ready to reclaim a world title, but it served its purpose in shaking off the ring rust.
Post-Fight Call-Out to The Gypsy King
Speaking in the ring to Netflix, which broadcast the event, Joshua was quick to turn his attention to the long-awaited domestic super-fight. "I can’t wait to roll into 2026," Joshua declared. "If Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there... step in the ring with me next if you’re a real bad boy."
He added a blunt message for his rival: "Don’t do all that talking, ‘AJ this, AJ that’, let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists." Reports suggest negotiations are already advanced for a potential clash between the two British heavyweights in Riyadh in 2026.
Paul's Brave Defeat and Injury Revelation
For Jake Paul, the fight was a stark step up in class. The 28-year-old showed tremendous heart to survive into the sixth round against a genuine elite-level operator, though he barely landed a significant punch. In a post-fight interview, a battered Paul spat out a mouthful of blood and revealed he believed his jaw was broken.
"I’m feeling good, that was fun," Paul said. "I love this sport. I gave it my all… Anthony’s a great fighter, I got my ass beat but that’s what this sport’s about. I think my jaw is broke by the way… it’s definitely broke." He stated his intention to heal and then target a cruiserweight world title.
Joshua Reflects on Systematic Breakdown
When asked if his lengthy layoff contributed to the laboured performance, Joshua insisted he had been in control throughout. "I need to give this guy a systematic breakdown," he explained. "I said I’m going to take his soul, I said I’m going to see it leaving his body round after round... I just took my time and I got the job done."
He concluded by emphasising his resilience: "I refuse to get hurt, I refuse to acknowledge getting hurt. As soon as he hit me, I stood there and I tried to hit him back. At the end of the day there’s going to be one winner and it’s me tonight." The stage is now set for what could be the biggest fight in British boxing history, if Fury accepts the call.
