While Jake Paul ended up in the hospital with a double jaw fracture after facing Anthony Joshua and publicly flaunting his millions despite the loss, the British boxer quickly shifted his focus to transforming his physique. For Joshua, the fight against the YouTube star is already in the past, and his attention is firmly set on what comes next.
Joshua had been away from the ring for nearly a year and a half following his defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley. However, his technical knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami made it clear that he is back and actively seeking another marquee fight. The bout’s global exposure on Netflix allowed audiences worldwide to see that the 36-year-old British heavyweight is ready for a legitimate challenge.
For the first time in his professional career, Joshua had to prepare under a specific weight restriction, coming in at 245 pounds for the fight against Paul. That limit influenced his physical preparation throughout the camp. Even so, he imposed himself decisively, dropping his opponent multiple times before bringing the fight to an end in the sixth round.
Why is Anthony Joshua changing his physique?
Just one week after stepping on the scales for the bout with Paul, photos began circulating on social media showing the English boxer carrying significantly more mass than what was permitted for last Friday’s fight.
The images were shown side by side, making the difference easy to spot. Joshua himself chose to address the situation with humor, joking that the change could be attributed to technology.
Back up to 260lbs. Some will call it AI.
Joshua said.
Despite the lighthearted comment, fans believe the weight gain is a deliberate move as Joshua prepares for his next major fight. Following his win over Paul, Joshua was direct in expressing his desire to face Tyson Fury, a showdown that has so far eluded him.
At 36 years old, Joshua appears to have found renewed momentum. With iconic venues, massive audiences and historic rivalries still within reach, the former champion is chasing more than a single victory.
If Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves, and come and fight one of the realist fighters out there who will take on any challenge, step in the ring with me next if you’re a real bad boy.
Don’t do all that talking: ‘AJ this, AJ that.’ Let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists.
Fury has hinted that he could come out of retirement, and a fight between the two would immediately become one of the biggest events in the sport. Fury has not fought since December 21, 2024, when he lost the rematch to Oleksandr Usyk after initially falling to him earlier that year.
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