Anthony Joshua is opening up about his mindset ahead of his blockbuster showdown with Jake Paul, revealing that he felt he had a mission to protect the sport of boxing.
Speaking after the highly publicized fight, Joshua joked that he had been given a “strict message” before stepping into the ring with the YouTuber-turned-boxer. According to the former heavyweight champion, the task was simple: remove Jake Paul from boxing once and for all.
“There was a strict message that was given, and a task that was laid upon me, and that was to get rid of Jake Paul and remove him from our beloved sport, which is boxing,” Joshua said with a smile.
Joshua then reflected on the result, adding that regardless of how many rounds it took, he believed he had completed the assignment.
“Whether that took me one round, whether that took me six rounds, I believe the job was well and truly done,” he stated.
The comments quickly went viral across social media, with boxing fans debating whether Joshua’s remarks were playful trash talk or a genuine reflection of how many traditional boxing fans view influencer boxing.
While Jake Paul has helped attract millions of new viewers to the sport, he has also faced criticism from boxing purists who believe celebrity fighters take attention away from career professionals.
Despite the criticism, Paul’s rise in boxing has been impossible to ignore. The social media star has headlined major events, generated massive pay-per-view numbers, and repeatedly challenged established fighters.
However, Joshua’s experience, size, and elite-level pedigree proved too much to overcome when the two finally shared the ring.
Whether fans agree with Joshua’s comments or not, one thing is certain: the heavyweight star believes he accomplished exactly what he set out to do when he faced Jake Paul.
Do you think Anthony Joshua really ended the Jake Paul boxing era, or is “The Problem Child” far from finished?