In the aftermath of his victory over Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua wasted no time in setting his sights on a showdown with longtime rival Tyson Fury. This marked Joshua’s return to the ring since his previous defeat to Daniel Dubois as he faced off against the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a heavyweight clash in Miami. Initially struggling to connect with his punches, Joshua eventually found his rhythm and secured two knockdowns in the fifth round, leading to the referee stopping the fight in the sixth.
Addressing the crowd in Miami, Joshua expressed his gratitude before shifting his focus to the future. While a potential match with Fury in Riyadh next year looms, Joshua issued a challenge to his rival, emphasizing his readiness to step into the ring and settle their rivalry with fists rather than words. Joshua’s promoter echoed the sentiment, highlighting the desire for a highly-anticipated bout with Fury for the world heavyweight championship in the coming year.
During the lead-up to the fight, Joshua’s comments about potentially “killing” Paul stirred controversy, drawing criticism from Fury. Joshua stood by his remarks, explaining that such statements are part of the mindset of a fighter, with the ultimate goal being victory in the ring. Fury, however, dismissed Joshua’s bravado, asserting his own readiness to face Joshua and deliver a knockout blow. The tension between the two fighters continues to escalate as fans eagerly anticipate a potential clash between the boxing giants.