Anthony Joshua Shakes Off Rust to Defeat Jake Paul, Lennox Lewis Comments on Layoff
Anthony Joshua returned to the ring after a 15-month hiatus to defeat Jake Paul in their heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Center on December 19,...
Anthony Joshua returned to the ring after a 15-month hiatus to defeat Jake Paul in their heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Center on December 19, 2025. While the victory was expected, the fight highlighted Joshua’s ring rust, something noted by former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.
Joshua’s Comeback Performance
Joshua admitted that it wasn’t his best performance, acknowledging that it “took a bit longer than expected” to secure the win. He methodically broke down Paul over six rounds, landing a decisive right hand that ultimately ended the contest.
“It wasn’t the best performance, it took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found its destination,” Joshua said. “Now, Jake Paul has done well tonight, I want to give him his props. He got up time and time again. It was difficult in there for him but he kept on trying to find a way.”
Despite the slow start, Joshua showed resilience, shaking off the “cobwebs” after his long absence from competitive boxing and expressing eagerness for 2026, even calling on Tyson Fury to face him next.
Expert Analysis: Lennox Lewis Weighs In
Lennox Lewis observed that Joshua’s time away from the ring showed during the fight. “He did what he had to do. He had a guy in front of him who was running around the ring and he had to catch up with him,” Lewis said in a Netflix interview.
He added, “And once he caught up with him, it really came down to who was in better shape … and after a while [Paul] was just sitting there waiting to get hit.”
Jake Paul’s Take
Jake Paul, who lasted six rounds, admitted fatigue but remained positive about his performance.
“I just got tired, to be honest. There was just so much handling his weight,” Paul said. “If I could have had better cardio, I could have kept it up, but he did amazing, he hits really hard and I did my personal best.”
Despite some facial injuries and a possible broken jaw, Paul said he enjoyed the experience. “I gave it my all, it’s f*ing crazy, I had a blast, thanks to all the fans,” he said. “Anthony is a great fighter and I got my a beat but that’s what this sport is about. I’m going to come back and keep on winning.”
Looking Ahead
Joshua’s win sets the stage for a potential blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury, as he hinted at a future showdown. The British heavyweight appears determined to reclaim his momentum after the long break and enter 2026 in top form.