The final chapter of Anthony Joshua's storied boxing career appears to be beginning, not with a title challenge, but in what many are calling a comical spectacle. The two-time world heavyweight champion's last serious outing ended in a brutal dismantling by Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024. Now, his next step is a highly lucrative, heavily scrutinised showdown with YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul.
A Miami Face-Off Sets the Tone
Earlier this week in Miami, the pre-fight theatrics for the Joshua-Paul bout unfolded. The staged face-off highlighted the physical mismatch, with Paul notably shorter. In a moment that seemed to play for laughs, Paul protruded his stomach, presenting an almost farcical image. The verbal exchanges, however, took a darker turn.
Regrettably, Joshua reiterated disturbing comments about having a "licence to kill," while Paul responded in kind, stating, "let's ****ing kill each other." For many in the sport, this kind of grim, vulgar talk is unacceptable, especially given boxing's tragic history of fatalities. It stands in stark contrast to the honour Joshua has commanded for much of his career.
The £140 Million Question: Sport or Show?
The financial incentive for this event is colossal, with the fighters set to split a purse of around £140 million. Despite the enormous sum, there has been little genuine sporting debate about the contest's outcome. The consensus is clear: Anthony Joshua wins. The real discussion centres on whether the event is a legitimate sporting contest or a choreographed production made for Netflix.
The fight will stream live on Netflix, accessible for free to UK fans via Sky's £15 Essential TV bundle. While few blame Joshua for securing such an outlandish payday, the occasion signifies a pivotal and sad shift for the British boxing icon.
The Shadow of Dubois and an Uncertain Future
What makes this transition particularly poignant is the unanswered question hanging over from Joshua's last professional fight. On September 21, 2024, Daniel Dubois delivered a devastating defeat to Joshua at Wembley. The brutality of that loss raised serious doubts about Joshua's future at the elite level.
Fifteen months later, the fight with Jake Paul will provide no answers. Joshua, now 36, will not be tested by a "proper heavyweight punch." If he does not face a serious contender until early spring, he will have gone a year and a half without a defining moment that tests his punch resistance and elite credentials.
The likely path forward seems to be a carefully managed comeback: after the Paul "freak show," a warm-up against a journeyman, followed by a lucrative retirement finale against Tyson Fury. For a fighter who has given so much to British boxing, this endgame, beginning in such a controversial fashion, marks a significant departure from the world title pursuits that defined his peak years. The honour he built over a fantastic career now risks being overshadowed by the "nonsense" unfolding in Florida.
