Anthony Joshua wasted no time in setting his sights on the ultimate prize after a hard-fought victory over Jake Paul in Miami. The former two-time heavyweight champion stopped the YouTube sensation in the sixth round before issuing a direct and public challenge to his British rival, Tyson Fury.
Shaking Off the Cobwebs in Miami
Making his first ring appearance since a shock defeat to Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua faced a tricky start against the elusive Jake Paul. Fighting in a professional heavyweight bout on Friday night, Joshua appeared frustrated as Paul used a large ring to his advantage, constantly moving to avoid the Brit's powerful right hand.
The momentum shifted decisively in the fifth round. Joshua found his range and timing, scoring two knockdowns that severely hurt Paul. The contest was finally waved off in the sixth round, handing Joshua a decisive victory and valuable rounds after a 15-month lay-off.
A Direct Message to The Gypsy King
After thanking the Miami crowd, Joshua's focus immediately turned to the future. With reports circulating that both he and Tyson Fury have verbally agreed to fight in 2026 as part of a major Riyadh Season event, Joshua sent a stark warning to the WBC champion.
"If Tyson Fury is as serious as he says he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves and come out and fight one of the realest fighters that will take on any challenge, Joshua declared. "Step in the ring with me next if you are a real bad boy. Don't do all of that talking 'AJ this, AJ that.' Let's see you in the ring and talk with your fists."
The Path to the Biggest Fight in Boxing
Joshua's promoter echoed his fighter's ambitions, confirming that the Tyson Fury fight is the paramount goal. "We want the Tyson Fury fight, of course. That's the fight. It's the biggest fight in boxing," he stated, suggesting that the Paul bout served as vital preparation for a return to world championship business in 2026.
While paying respect to Jake Paul's heart and effort, Joshua made it clear that his journey is now solely focused on settling his historic rivalry with Fury, a bout that British boxing fans have demanded for years.
