Anthony Joshua has taken the drastic step of hanging up the phone on discussions about a potential super-fight with Tyson Fury, insisting his entire focus is on his imminent showdown with Jake Paul.
Blinkers On for Miami Showdown
The former two-time unified heavyweight world champion returns to the ring on Friday night, December 19, in Miami to face the YouTuber-turned-boxer. This will be Joshua's first fight since his fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking on the 'MVP UNCUT' podcast, the 36-year-old British star admitted that any attempts to steer conversation towards future plans are swiftly shut down. "Interestingly, there has been opportunities to look past this fight," Joshua said. "'Joshua, we want to talk about this fight. Joshua, we want to talk about your next fight.' I said 'look, right now, my main focus is on Jake Paul,' and I have hung up the phone respectfully."
He emphasised a singular mindset for his team: "blinkers on and we are focused on our target for December 19." The fight will be streamed live globally on Netflix.
Preparing for the Best Jake Paul
Despite being the overwhelming favourite, Joshua stated he is preparing for the most dangerous version of his opponent. "I do not really look for anyone's weaknesses. I am just looking at his strengths," he explained.
"He is good. I do not want to underestimate anyone... I am fighting Jake Paul that is going to be the best version of Jake Paul." Joshua analysed Paul's style, noting his side-on stance and use of the 'Philly Shell' defence, but ultimately gave the social media star only a "slim to none" chance of causing an upset.
The Fury Fight: A Dance Waiting for a Partner
Once the Paul fight is concluded, Joshua confirmed he will be ready to discuss a long-awaited clash with WBC champion Tyson Fury. Reports last week suggested the pair had agreed to fight in the summer of 2026, pending successful warm-up bouts.
Joshua revealed this is not the first time a fight between them has been close. "I’ve spoken to Tyson before. Me and Tyson have. I actually signed to fight Tyson," he said, referencing the collapsed deal around the time of his first fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
He expressed clear hope for the future, framing it as a natural progression for 'big time boxing'. "Of course, there’s hope... I just feel like it takes two to tango and I’m on the dance floor. I’m just looking for a dance partner," Joshua concluded, leaving the door wide open for a historic British heavyweight showdown in 2026.
