Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will make his anticipated return on Friday night, when he faces combat sports lightning rod Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) has been away from the ring for more than a year. In September 2024, “AJ” was knocked down four times, as he took a fifth-round knockout loss against then-IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
It’s been over four years since Joshua last held a world title. He was defeated for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles by unanimous decision against Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021.
As Joshua seeks to bounce back from a brutal defeat, we take a look at some of his biggest moments inside the ring.
Big statement in professional debut
The London 2012 Olympic gold medallist made his professional debut against Emanuele Leo in October 2013. Joshua landed repeated one-two combinations, as he battered up a vulnerable Leo in the first round. One knockdown was more than enough to secure a TKO win for Joshua.
A short, but thunderous win
In the shortest outing of his career, Joshua dismantled Matt Legg just over a minute of the first round in May 2014. He landed a hard right uppercut that sent Legg down on his side, and unable to continue. Joshua picked up his fifth win by a first-round knockout victory.
Satisfying victory over a bitter rival
In perhaps his first real test, Joshua took on the previously undefeated Dillian Whyte in December 2015. The two had history, as Whyte handed Joshua his first amateur loss in 2009. Joshua got his long-awaited revenge with a brutal seventh-round TKO win.
Joshua captures first world championship
The native of Watford, England, received his first title shot against then-IBF heavyweight titleholder Charles Martin in April 2016. Martin was no match for Joshua, as he was knocked down twice in the second round with flush right hands. Joshua went on to become a world champion with a big knockout victory.
An emerging star at heavyweight
In his second defense of the IBF heavyweight title, Joshua met Éric Molina in December 2016. The defending champion scored a knockdown in the third round with a straight right hand. Joshua unloaded several hooks against a defenseless Molina, as he retained the IBF title with a TKO victory. The win set Joshua up for one of his most memorable high-profile fights.
Joshua dismantles Hall of Famer
Joshua faced former lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017. He knocked Klitschko down in the fifth round with a right hand. However, Joshua hit the canvas for the first time in his career in the sixth round.
In an absolute slugfest, Joshua scored two more knockdowns against Klitschko in the eleventh round for a TKO win. He claimed the vacant WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles to become a unified champion.
Another world title to the collection
In March 2018, Joshua put the WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles on the line against then-WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. Joshua was in control for most of the fight, behind his jab and accurate combinations. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Joshua, as he claimed the WBO title by unanimous decision. It was the first fight to go the full distance, as Joshua had stoppage wins through 20 fights.
Joshua show underrated heart against Povetkin
The reigning unified heavyweight champion took on Alexander Povetkin in September 2018. Joshua faced adversity early on, with his nose bleeding in the first round. He closed out the fight in dominant fashion, as Povetkin went down twice in the seventh round. Joshua defeated Povetkin by TKO to remain the unified heavyweight champion.
Two-time unified heavyweight champion
Joshua suffered his first career defeat, in a huge upset TKO loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019. He hit the canvas four times as Ruiz became the new unified heavyweight champion. In December 2019, they met in a rematch. Joshua used his height and reach advantage to keep the fight on the outside. He earned a wide unanimous decision win to reclaim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.
Joshua sends Ngannou back to MMA
Joshua’s last victory game against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, in March 2024. Ngannou previously took a close split decision loss to Tyson Fury; however, he didn’t fare as well against Joshua. “The Predator” was knocked down twice before he was put out cold in the second round by a right hand from Joshua.
