“I Said I’d Take His Soul”

Big battles don’t always bring out broadly smiling faces. Well, it’s an easy win for Nice Anthony He didn’t feel particularly good about the way this fight has gone on despite taking it home—and please permit him to express his dissatisfaction in himself.

What followed was part analysis, part tip of the hat to an opponent who fought on, charging through the hail Mary contests (and part goad for what boxing aficionados dojooshua As for what’s to come next: Joshua vs. Fury is a long way away. Joshua also talked a bit about being out of rhythm, picking up the pieces, and moving to Oleksandr Usyk from his former home at Split T. It brought new life into his game as a result of all this.

The result, the setting, and the tone afterward

Joshua thanked the whole teams involved in making the event happen, said MVP and Netflix. Coincidentally, he also gave Jake Paul credit for stepping into the ring with him when many fighters haven’t. For his part, Jake said he hopes that they both made good money out of this fight.

So: He left everyone gobsmacked and wondering what had just happened. Is this how boxing ends its own ancient sport, with a retiring UK boxing champion—after defending his title successfully—grappling with opponents he might otherwise take great guesswork to fight off completely? Part of Joshua’s history; well, let’s keep it up, feel positive, and be positive about everything we do.

For a round-by-round recap and the official framing of the ending, Netflix’s coverage is a useful reference, including the sixth-round stoppage result in their write-up, Anthony Joshua defeats Jake Paul by sixth-round knockout.

Joshua’s plan vs Jake Paul’s movement

Joshua said he went into the fight expecting one of two extremes:

• Jake Paul coming forward at full speed, trying to force chaos
• Jake Paul moving around the ring at full speed, trying to stay safe

Paul chose mobility, while Joshua went in the direction of pressing. No attempt was made to solve this mystery. One could liken it more to a game of chess, in which one player chooses a defensive opening, either to advance or… Joshua acknowledged that there were “multiple” things he could have done differently. He struck a nerve also often overlooked by followers: that after people are subjected to highlight videos, their requirements for the top fighters become immense, and the difference between “going away to win” and that great night can be large indeed inside the ropes of a boxing ring.

“Fighting isn’t just physical; it’s psychological.”

The most quoted words from Joshua came when he brought back something he had said in the prelude: fighting is as much psychological as it is physical.

He used the expression “psychological warfare” to describe it, and the words that had been going through his mind the whole time when this incredibly mismatched bout ended with a feeble finish by both involved—where was the strength gone for yourself at taking part against him? On some day you’ve “taken his soul.” From Paul Lively he’ll either submit or be knocked out. That is what separates someone who can do battle at this level from someone who cannot.

Still, Joshua did not overlook Paul’s toughness; he pointed out how Paul had “spirit” and “heart” and told the referee that it was a good thing for Paul to try and get back up after lying down. Joshua even suggested that if Paul still wants it, he can go away and rebuild, then come back, and they might be able to fill those same seats again in 2026.

Eddie Hearn’s view: respect for Jake, concern about the jaw

Eddie Hearn agreed with Joshua but kept it real. On the one hand, there were reports going around that he might have a broken jaw; Hearn said it is difficult for someone to come back from an injury like that, and on top of which, the last shot would have put down most heavyweights alive. He added that, while Paul’s approach in the early stages had been “absolutely negative,” this was quite clever for a person posing little problem. Paul’s grit stood in stark contrast with the headlock he had been under, and he finished after a stoppage still on his feet.

That mix of honesty and credit matches what Hearn said before the bout as well, including in BBC Sport’s coverage. No script, Joshua will quickly knock Paul out.

Why the clinching got messy (and what Joshua was trying to do)

When asked about clinches and the rough stuff, Joshua gave a candid, technical answer.

Paul did well in a clinch, he said, because survival mode helps fighters to be inventive. Joshua said he wanted to work inside, but Paul tied his hands up and did not leave him a single open target for his right. Joshua fought, gasping for air, hands tied and feet rooted; so when his right did finally come loose, he got off only body shots in close quarters. One of these moments that caught many people’s attention was on a break from unlikely corners.

His tale was brief. By his own admission it wasn’t very attractive, but one right hand landed, and so the work got done.

What’s next for Anthony Joshua: the 2026 plan and the Tyson Fury question

Joshua did not announce anything concrete, but he detailed the process. Conversations are taking place between Hearn and Turki Alalshikh (closest to the conversation with Riyadh Season), and then information goes full circle with Joshua’s full team of coaches, training team, manager, and promoter at the final destination.

He kept coming back to one concept: fighters always want to fight; coaches direct the decision-making. He described himself as a man of “strong will” who—at least in the abstract, maybe not so in this edition—wants to push further down the road before he calls it quits in this Texas campaign but is leaving the timing to those who are monitoring his body on an hour-by-hour and daily basis.

The hardest part is the timing, Hearn said. Joshua had just come through eight or nine weeks with a new team and a variety of camps. The plan, Hearn has said, was to fight in the spring and then fight Tyson Fury.

Joshua’s own preference sounded almost simpler: throw him and Fury together as soon as both are ready. No interim fight. No extra runway. Just sign and fight. For more on how that Fury path is being discussed publicly, including the broader picture around 2026, this overview is a helpful snapshot: Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury fight details: what we know.

The Rico Verhoeven rumor (and why Hearn wouldn’t bite)

A reporter asked about rumors of a February fight against kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven (the name came out a bit garbled on stage). Hearn said there’s “no legs” to it as of now, and that nothing is finalized. He repeated that the team needs to decide when Joshua will be ready, and they won’t rush him back if he isn’t.

Jake Paul vs Francis Ngannou: Joshua’s comparison

Joshua was pressed on comparing Jake Paul to Francis Ngannou, in the sense that neither is a ‘conventional’ opponent.

He praised both for heart, and he also said how hard the ring walk is, the waiting, the mental pressure clicking its jagged teeth, and finally turning loose your feet toward the lights. He also reserved special respect for Ngannou as an MMA fighter making his way into boxing on two occasions.

On Paul, Joshua said he had been fighting at an elite level “for five years maybe” when it comes to attention and pressure, and that he’s taken the pressure in stride already. But Joshua also drew a hard line—through the ceiling: So far he won’t call Paul world-class and said that he believes Paul would struggle at the very top.

Even with that, Joshua still claimed Paul would have a future in boxing if he so desired.

“I just want to be an athlete”: getting the spark back

Perhaps the most human moment of the press conference involved nothing to do with combinations.

Joshua said his new team had given him a spark and new love for the sport. After taking a year off, he decided to slow down and take in what was going on around him. He told me he wants to just be an athlete, nothing else, not when business or outside noise gets in the way.He had also responded directly when asked if he’d fallen out of love with boxing. He describes it as an attempt to “fall back in love” with running while navigating family life and the choices he was making every day. Boxing is unforgiving, and if you don’t give it 100 percent attention, the belts end up elsewhere,” he said.

That’s why he took the step away: not because he didn’t want to fight, but because he didn’t feel good about doing so even if he wasn’t going to be at his best.

How training with Usyk’s team started (and why it lasted)

Joshua revealed how the link-up with Oleksandr Usyk’s camp came about. He said he talked to Sergey, who’s involved with Usyk, and was invited to camp to spar rounds. “So I went expecting it would be a short deal,” Witherspoon said. The schedules didn’t line up at first, then a friend, Tom Hall, told him he should put boxing ahead of everything else and create the time.

Two weeks became three months, and three months became a battle. Joshua said that it has been a good experience and an eye-opener, and that he feels he can do more with what he’s learned.

If you want the background reporting on the move, ESPN covered the plan earlier for Joshua to train out of Usyk’s camp for the Paul fight.

Was it a “success” night? Joshua said no

A win is a win, but Joshua didn’t act as if this was a victory lap.

Was the evening a triumph? he was asked at one point. Yes and no; I did not do as well as I could have. He said he simply wants more for himself and that his coach has more for him. “I have a life; I have work that I need to do and cannot exist on the algorithm buzz,” he added. He also described the pressure he felt—the doubt from others, the sense that “I have boxing in my back,” and how “you make only one mistake and everything goes.” He said that he took Paul’s qualms very seriously but added that he takes himself very seriously, too, and that one rule of the exchange is you do not go in underdone.

Why this press conference felt like a crossover moment (UFC-style energy included)

Portions of the stage Q&A got unruly in a way that fans who subsist on UFC clips should find familiar. There were call-outs, yelling from a Fury family member, and wayward side conversations that seemed more suited to a UFC weigh-in or a Dana White press conference. That’s the combat sports realm these days, with boxing and mixed martial arts lending each other volume.

It’s also why coverage and reaction spill over the same channels. In general, the fans who are following ESPN MMA, MMAFighting, MMAJunkie, and whatever are the same people sharing a clip of Conor McGregor doing an interview or Jorge Masvidal going off on someone and finally that staredown from a picture-perfect “faceoff.” They understand the rhythm of UFC weigh-ins, the chaos of UFC weigh-ins, and the way a moment can be bigger than the fight.

So if you see people posting that the scene is Conor McGregor highlights, Jon Jones highlights, or even the shorthand talk fans love (like Jones-Gane)—it’s not without a reason. It’s the same crowd that debates Nate Diaz’s toughness, Khamzat Chimaev’s intensity, Adesanya’s style, Sean Strickland’s funny soundbites, Max Holloway’s volume, Justin Gaethje’s violence, and whether Volkanovski (or Alex Volkanovski) can do it again. And it’s also that crowd wondering what UFC Miami would look like, what UFC 314 could deliver, and where Michael Chandler and, yes, Paddy Pimblett fit into the next run of big events.

In that sense, TheMacLife (mac life) has landed in a sweet spot, covering fight culture the way it’s actually consumed now. You can find more of their work at TheMacLife.com, plus updates on TheMacLifeOfficial on Instagram and TheMacLife on X.

A quick note on the event sponsors mentioned

The video also includes sponsor mentions tied to TheMacLife coverage, including Gym King promotions. If you’re looking for the items referenced on the broadcast, you can see the Gym King Fight Division collection and the main Gym King store.

Conclusion

The content of Joshua’s post-fight message landed in a very real place: respect for Jake Paul as far tougher than the social media celeb had been expected to be, honesty about not loving his performance (extraordinarily wide scores aside), and a clear intent to continue toward the biggest fights possible. He attributes the return of his focus to a year of reflection and a new team, and he is treating his focus like something fragile that has to be guarded each day. Now, it’s about timing and whether it’s one more fight in the spring or directly against Tyson Fury. If Joshua has his way, the wait is over soon.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes