Joshua vs. Paul: A Post-Fight Reckoning and Celebrity Reactions

Published 1 hour ago2 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Joshua vs. Paul: A Post-Fight Reckoning and Celebrity Reactions

In a highly anticipated boxing match that concluded on December 20, 2025, former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua delivered Jake Paul his second professional career loss. The main event, held at Miami's Kaseya Center, saw Joshua defeat Paul by a sixth-round knockout after a methodical performance.

Despite being the heavy favorite, Joshua adopted a patient approach, systematically dismantling the smaller Paul over five rounds. He scored four knockdowns before ultimately securing the stoppage in Round 6. Joshua had faced some initial difficulty in landing punches, with Paul employing movement and evasion in the opening rounds, making it challenging for Joshua to corner the YouTuber-turned-boxer. However, once Joshua's power punches connected, the significant gap in class and power became evident.

Following his dominant victory, Anthony Joshua offered a surprisingly blunt assessment of his performance. He stated that while it was a win, it was "not a success" and expressed a need to "do better." Joshua articulated, "I think my coach expects more from me and I expect more from myself. But what can we do? I have to move forward. I can't live off that win, I've got a lot of improvement I need to do." He indicated a swift shift in focus, putting the fight in the past.

Joshua also shared his thoughts on Jake Paul's efforts, acknowledging Paul's spirit and heart. "Jake done well while it lasted... But fighting is not just physical it's psychological, and when you understand the psychological warfare, I did say to [Paul]: 'What's going to happen is I'm going to see a time when I'm going to take your soul and you're either going to give up or get knocked out.'" He added, "No. 1, a lot of fighters haven't got in the ring with me and Jake did. And secondly, even when he got knocked down, he kept trying to get up."

The fight's outcome and Joshua's performance garnered widespread reactions from active and former athletes and celebrities. Comments ranged from Kevin Garnett likening the fight to a classic boxing matchup, to Shaquille O'Neal questioning if there was a "script." Chad Johnson noted Joshua's restraint, while others like Sergio Mora jokingly compared Paul to a clown. Nathan Diaz, Ryan Garcia, Dez Bryant, Sexyy Red, Chris Eubank Jr., O'Shea Jackson Jr., and Claressa Shields also chimed in with their varied perspectives, reflecting the broad interest and discussion surrounding the high-profile bout.

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