Anthony Joshua Reveals the True Reason Jake Paul Ended Up Being His First Opponent After a 15-Month Layoff
Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has shed light on why he agreed to fight Jake Paul after spending 15 months away from the sport. Before stepping back, the 36-year-old was considered among the elite in boxing, having twice held the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts at the same time.
Many fans were left puzzled as to why the British star chose to cut short his break to face someone still labelled by critics as a YouTuber-turned-fighter. However, since turning pro in 2018, Paul—whose brother Logan is a WWE star—has suffered just one defeat in 13 fights, a run that includes a unanimous-decision win over Mike Tyson.
The pair are set to clash in Miami on December 19 at the Kaseya Center. And with questions still swirling around the timing of his return, Joshua has now made his motivations clear.
Anthony Joshua Details Why He Came Back
Speaking at Friday night’s press conference, Joshua showed full respect for Paul. While debate rages about where Paul truly ranks in boxing, Joshua kept things straightforward, saying via Sky Sports:
“Credit to Jake and his team for reaching out. I wanted to take a year away and refocus. I already planned to fight again, and this opportunity came up. It’s huge, massive — Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua. It’s a global event.”
When pressed on what had changed behind the scenes since his September 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois, Joshua revealed several adjustments aimed at ensuring a smooth return. “I stepped away for 12 months and reset my vision board. I also streamlined my team,” he said.
“I was going full throttle with blinkers on. It took time, but I’m back. Ben Davison won’t be training me. I’ve been working with Team Usyk. He’s one of the best — in fact, he is the best in the world.”
Whether these changes will pay off will only become clear when the fight arrives next month. One thing is certain: Joshua will take home a staggering £70 million — the biggest purse of his career — which undoubtedly factored into his high-profile return.
