Joshua defeats Jake Paul in Miami, but post-fight reflections reveal a mind aimed at improvement

Anthony Joshua stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round at the Kaseya Center in Miami, delivering a clear statement as he resumes his heavyweight trajectory. The stoppage capped a night in which the former two-time world champion stayed on track after a 15-month layoff and a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September, reaffirming his return to winning ways.

Yet the reaction inside the arena and in the corridors afterward suggested a fighter who was missing the shield of triumph and already unpacking the performance. Joshua invited a Daily Mail journalist for a walk-and-talk, moving from the dressing room to the post-fight press conference as he reflected on the night with his team.

Joshua acknowledged that there were things he could have done better and said he would be honest about the areas to work on before his next fight. He credited Paul for the performance but stressed that his own showing did not meet his standards. He anticipated questions about the fight going six rounds and what that might mean for his development.

On the question of rust, he said he did not feel rusty after 15 months away, though he noted that a fighter of his caliber should aim to finish fights earlier. He suggested that a top-level fighter would expect a knockout within two rounds, implying there is still work to be done to raise his killer instinct.

Backstage, Joshua is now training with Oleksandr Usyk's team, with Sergey Lapin among the key figures in his camp. The group emphasizes detail, marginal gains and precision, and Joshua said the coaches do not allow much room for error given what is at stake.

He described the mindset he wants as boxing-focused and distraction-free, with less noise and fewer side projects. He signaled a return to a more disciplined routine and even joked that he might summarize his message using a tool such as ChatGPT, reflecting a desire to keep communications straightforward.

Overall, Joshua said the win was welcome but unfinished business. He aims to keep sharpening his craft and to align with Usyk's team to build a more complete performance in his next assignment, while staying on message and away from distractions.