Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has attributed Jake Paul’s loss to Anthony Joshua to the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s physical unpreparedness for a heavyweight fight. The contest ended in a sixth-round stoppage in favour of Joshua, marking a significant milestone in the Briton’s comeback.
Gossip News Now reports that Paul, who had never been knocked down professionally before, failed to beat the count as Joshua’s pressure eventually overwhelmed him.
Speaking on Netflix, Lewis said, “Paul wasn’t in good shape, especially for a big heavyweight like that. After a couple rounds it showed; he was basically sitting there waiting to get hit.”
Lewis, a three-time world champion, also noted that Joshua’s 15-month hiatus following his loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024 contributed to a slower start for the fight.
“When Anthony said he’d been out for 15 months, it showed. He needed a couple rounds to warm up and get used to the ring again before he threw those punches. He did what he had to do. He had a guy in front of him running around the ring, and he had to catch up with him,” Lewis added.
Former super middleweight champion Andre Ward offered a more measured perspective on Paul’s performance, particularly during the early rounds.
“When Paul got tired, he panicked. That’s a sign of fatigue. He helped Joshua out a little because he had decent success early on. You have to give Joshua some credit too; Jake Paul was good enough to make things interesting for a while,” Ward said.
Meanwhile, retired British boxer Chris Eubank Jr praised Paul’s determination. “Regardless of the outcome, Jake Paul got into the ring with an Olympic gold medallist and former heavyweight world champion and gave his best until the very end. You have to respect him—he did what most would never do and didn’t give up,” Eubank wrote on 𝕏.
Former world heavyweight champion David Haye also credited Paul for his efforts, noting Joshua’s early frustration. “Joshua was trying a little too hard. It’s not about winning; it’s about how he wins,” Haye said, later adding, “Jake Paul was competitive in there. It was frustrating for Anthony Joshua in the early rounds.”
