'Not the Best': AJ's Brutal Response After Shock Paul Result
Joshua Calls Out Fury in Explosive Swipe After Controversial Miami Fight
The Shock Result: What Actually Happened in Miami
🎯 OFFICIAL RESULT 🎯
Anthony Joshua wins via Unanimous Decision (UD) after 8 competitive rounds.
Scores: 77-75, 78-74, 76-75 (all for Joshua)
In a stunning turn of events that nobody fully predicted, Anthony Joshua did NOT score the quick knockout the world expected. Instead, he was forced to go the full eight-round distance against a surprisingly game, resilient, and tactically smart Jake Paul.
The fight was competitive. Paul used his speed and movement effectively in the early rounds, even stunning Joshua with a crisp counter in the third. Joshua's trademark power was evident, hurting Paul to the body multiple times and visibly slowing the YouTuber in the middle rounds. However, the finishing blow never came.
The decision was clear but the performance was muddy. Joshua got the win on the scorecards, but the pre-fight narrative of a destructive, statement-making execution was shattered. The arena, and the global streaming audience on Netflix, was left in a state of shocked confusion rather than awe.
AJ's Raw Post-Fight Reaction
In the immediate aftermath, a subdued Anthony Joshua faced the media. The bravado and chilling menace of fight week were gone, replaced by a reflective, almost frustrated honesty.
"Credit to Jake. He's a better fighter than people give him credit for. He came in with a good game plan, he was tough, he was fit. I hit him with some shots that would have put away a lot of heavyweights... but he was still there."
When asked to rate his own performance, Joshua didn't mince words. With a wry smile and a shake of his head, he delivered the line that would headline sports bulletins worldwide.
"It wasn't the best. Let's be honest. I got the win, that's the objective. But it wasn't the statement I wanted to make. I wanted to close the show emphatically. I didn't. That's on me."
This candid admission was a stark contrast to the invincible champion persona. It was a moment of vulnerability from a fighter who had built his brand on dominance, acknowledging that the "Jake Paul experiment" had proven far more difficult than the boxing establishment ever anticipated.
Addressing the "Kill" Threat: A Sober Reflection
Inevitably, journalists circled back to his pre-fight comments—the "if I can kill you, I will kill you" line that had caused such controversy. In the cold light of the result, Joshua was asked if he regretted those words.
"Look, that's fight talk. That's the mentality you need to walk in there with. But when you're in there, it's a sport. You're trying to win under the rules. After, you're just glad everyone is safe. Jake is healthy, I'm healthy. That's the most important thing."
He was pressed on whether the threat had backfired, putting undue pressure on him to produce a violent knockout that never materialised.
"Maybe," Joshua conceded. "When you say things like that, you paint yourself into a corner. People expect a certain type of performance. But in there, it's not that simple. He was defensively sound, he moved well. It's easy to talk before; it's harder to do in the ring."
It was a significant climb-down from the pre-fight menace, reframing his most shocking soundbite as mere "mentality" talk rather than a genuine intent.
The Brutal Fury Call-Out: "My Nemesis"
With the Paul chapter closed, Joshua was quick to pivot. When asked what was next, his demeanour shifted. The frustration melted away, replaced by a focused intensity as he set his sights on the one man who has defined his career from afar: Tyson Fury.
🥊 THE CALL-OUT MOMENT 🥊
"Now we get to what matters. Now we get to the real fight. Tyson Fury. My nemesis. The fight that should have happened years ago."
"All this other stuff is just noise. Fury's been running his mouth for a decade. Let's see if he's a man of his word. He says he's the best? He says I'm not on his level? Let's settle it. No more YouTube, no more exhibitions. Just me and him for the heavyweight championship of the world."
"I'm not waiting anymore. The date is there in 2026. Sign the contract. Or admit you're scared."
This was the classic AJ redirect. By labelling Fury his "nemesis" and framing the fight as a battle for truth and legacy, he instantly elevated the conversation away from the complicated Paul result and toward the super-fight that defines British boxing.
It was a masterful piece of promotional judo—using the momentum of one fight (even an underwhelming win) to launch a challenge for the biggest fight in the sport.
The Fighter's Pivot: In the high-stakes game of combat sports, momentum is everything. A single performance, even a messy win, can redefine a career trajectory. For Anthony Joshua, navigating the aftermath wasn't about relying on a pre-ordained script or hoping for 77luck in the public's perception. It was about a swift, strategic pivot—acknowledging the reality of the fight in front of him while forcefully steering the narrative toward the future blockbuster that fans truly crave. This ability to control the story outside the ring is as crucial as any punch thrown inside it.
Expert Analysis: Was This a Win or a Loss for AJ?
The Case For: A Professional, Bankable Win
- The Record Books: A 'W' is a 'W'. He faced an awkward, motivated opponent and found a way to win clearly on points.
- Adaptability Shown: When the knockout wasn't there, he adjusted, boxed smartly, and secured the victory. That shows maturity.
- The Payday: He reportedly banked upwards of $50 million. Financially, it's a monumental success.
- The Setup: It keeps him active, provides a huge global platform, and sets up the Fury fight perfectly from a business standpoint.
The Case Against: A Reputational Setback
- Failed the Vibe Check: He promised destruction and delivered a decision. In the entertainment business, that's a broken promise.
- Boosted Paul's Stock: By not obliterating Paul, he inadvertently legitimised him. Paul's stock rose in defeat.
- Raised Questions: Does AJ still have his concussive power? Why couldn't he hurt a much smaller man consistently?
- The Fury Shadow: Fury will mock this performance mercilessly. It gives Fury ammunition in the psychological war.
Verdict: A short-term tactical win with potential long-term strategic costs. The Fury fight is now an absolute necessity to erase the doubts.
The Aussie Fight Fan's Verdict
For Australian sports fans, who love nothing more than an underdog story and can spot a beat-up from a mile away, this whole saga is a ripper. We saw a bloke who was written off give a champion a proper shake, and we saw that champion have the honesty to admit it wasn't his best night.
Joshua's call-out of Fury is what we're here for now. That's the real beef, the fight that has genuine sporting history behind it. The Paul chapter was a bizarre, lucrative detour, but the road now leads back to a proper, old-fashioned grudge match.
Of course, the world of high-stakes competition extends beyond the ring. The thrill of the contest, whether in sport or other games of chance, is a universal draw. If you fancy a different kind of action after the final bell, many Aussies enjoy a casual punt. For those interested, checking out the pokies at a site like 77luck could be a bit of fun. Just remember the golden rule: whether it's boxing or betting, always have a plan, know your limits, and keep it responsible.
The final word? Joshua got the win but lost the narrative. Now, he must chase Tyson Fury to reclaim his story. The comeback tale starts now.
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