Anthony Joshua's Verdict on 'Alright' Jake Paul Punching Power

The win would've been a welcome feeling for Joshua, who hadn't tasted victory since March 2024 when he defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Before fighting Paul, last time out, also in 2024, Joshua battled Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title, knowing that a win represented a huge opportunity. Beat Dubois, and Joshua would have had a shot at the undisputed heavyweight title, facing the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury.

Sadly, it wasn't to be for Joshua, who had suffered three losses in his previous seven fights following the defeat to Dubois. And after a lengthy layoff, due in part to a shoulder injury, the encounter with Paul presented an opportunity to remind the boxing world of his true credentials. An Olympic gold medallist with almost two decades of experience, Joshua has been a mainstay of a heavyweight division that has produced many of the greatest boxers in history, capturing world heavyweight titles on two occasions.

Before Paul had even entertained the idea of becoming a boxer, Joshua had already beaten the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker in world title bouts. AJ had a wealth of incredible experience to call upon ahead of the Netflix-streamed fight, whereas Paul was entering a previously uncharted realm.

Paul's boxing record is littered with boxers well past their best and MMA stars trying to transition into boxing. The Problem Child even fought a former NBA star in Nate Robinson in 2020. So when the dust settled on his fight with AJ, it was no surprise to see Paul laid out on the mat, his jaw shattered.

What Anthony Joshua Said About Jake Paul's Ability

For Joshua, the fight panned out as he would've hoped. However, when quizzed by Fight Hub TV, he clearly felt there was room for improvement.

"Could have been better, but we got there in the end."

When asked about Paul's performance, Joshua's terse response did little to suggest that he was impressed by the YouTuber's punching power.

"It was alright," he responded briefly.

Finally, AJ was asked whether he was surprised that Paul managed to make it to the sixth round before being knocked out, to which Joshua responded: "Kinda."