UFC legend Joe Rogan was left speechless when Anthony Joshua experienced one of the most unexpected defeats in boxing history. This Friday, former four-belt heavyweight champion Joshua will make his return to the ring for the first time since his shocking loss to Daniel Dubois last year, facing off against the controversial Jake Paul.
The much-anticipated bout is set to take place at Miami’s Caseya Center and represents the toughest challenge yet for Paul, who is relatively new to professional boxing. Despite rumors suggesting Joshua might be restricted from knocking out the internet personality turned boxer, he recently issued a chilling warning to the 28-year-old, stating he would “kill” him if given the opportunity. Looking forward to 2026, Joshua aims to win more titles and avoid another historic upset.
Joe Rogan was famously astonished when Joshua suffered a historic upset. At one time, Joshua was seen as the face of boxing in Britain, reviving the sport in the UK as a four-belt champion. In 2019, his team arranged his first U.S. fight, initially slated against controversial American boxer Jarrell Miller, who was removed after testing positive for banned substances. This led to Andy Ruiz Jr. stepping in at the last minute.
Joshua’s title defense, initially viewed as an easy win, ended in one of boxing’s biggest shocks when Ruiz Jr. knocked Joshua out in the seventh round. Ruiz Jr. later appeared on Rogan’s podcast, where Rogan expressed his amazement at Joshua’s resilience and the fight’s intensity, noting how he jumped out of bed witnessing the dramatic bout.
If Jake Paul manages to defeat Joshua, it would likely be regarded as the biggest upset in boxing history. Paul, with only 13 professional fights, has mainly fought retired competitors who are smaller and older, raising concerns among boxing professionals about his safety in challenging Joshua.
Fan Take: This fight is a pivotal moment for boxing fans, as it pits a seasoned champion against a rising social media star, blending traditional boxing prestige with new-age hype. The outcome could redefine the sport’s landscape and either reinforce or challenge the legitimacy of celebrity-driven boxing.
