As of late 2025, Anthony Joshua (29 – 4, 26 KOs) occupies a strange but lucrative space in boxing: a global superstar whose commercial value has outlasted his aura of invincibility, though the shadow of his crushing September 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois remains. At 36, he has transitioned into a “legacy attraction” phase: too fragile for the young lions of the division but still too dangerous and famous to ignore. While his stiff mechanics and questionable recovery are permanent flaws, his crushing right hand remains a world class equalizer, keeping the dream of a massive 2026 showdown with Tyson Fury alive which could as well be the final chapter of his career.
The Fighter’s Verdict at a Glance
As of late 2025, Anthony Joshua who is popularly called AJ remains one of the most commercially significant figures in the world of boxing history. However, his status as a prime heavyweight contender is in serious doubt. Following a devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, Joshua has transitioned into what many analysts and/ or critics call the “legacy” or “entertainment” phase of his career. This is spotlighted by his scheduled fight against Jake Paul in Miami. While his power and fundamental skills still remain undoubtedly world class, questions regarding his durability, punch resistance, and psychological recovery loom larger than ever.
Anthony Joshua’s Recent Form & Trajectory (2023–2025)
Anthony Joshua’s career in the last two years has been a rollercoaster of reinvention followed by collapse.
- The Renaissance (2023–Early 2024): Under his trainer Ben Davison, AJ briefly looked rejuvenated. His destruction of Otto Wallin and the brutal 2nd-round KO of Francis Ngannou (March 2024) insinuated he had regained his confidence and killer instinct. He looked sharp, aggressive, quick-witted and decisive.
- The Collapse (September 2024, AJ vs Daniel Dubois): This was the turning point. Walking into Wembley as what many had considered as the favourite to reclaim a world title (IBF), Joshua was systematically humbled and dismantled. Dubois floored him four times, exposing critical defensive lapses and a deteriorated chin. The 5th-round KO loss was not just a defeat; it was a signal that Joshua could no longer hold off the hungry, younger generation of heavyweights.
- The Aftermath (2025): Since AJ’s loss to Dubois, he has stepped away from title contention. His decision to face Jake Paul in December 2025 signals a pivot from chasing belts to chasing purses and spectacle, a move that has divided his fans.
Technical Analysis
Before his late-career transition into a more tentative survivor, Anthony Joshua was the quintessential modern heavyweight “boxer-puncher”—a textbook offensive machine built on European fundamentals and elite athleticism. Standing 6’6” with an 82-inch reach, his game was anchored by a piston-like left jab that served as both a range-finder and a bludgeon, setting up his two most devastating weapons: a laser-straight right hand and a signature rear uppercut that became his trademark finisher (most famously against Wladimir Klitschko). Unlike the raw sluggers of his era, Joshua’s superpower was his combination punching; he possessed the rare ability to throw fluid, four-to-five punch sequences with blinding speed and crushing power, often overwhelming opponents who covered up. However, this offensive brilliance always masked inherent defensive liabilities: an upright, somewhat robotic stance with minimal head movement and a “high chin” that left him susceptible to counter-left hooks; technical flaws that, combined with a questionable gas tank when forced to recover from trauma, eventually became the blueprints for his defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk.
Strengths
- Elite Offensive Arsenal: Even at 36, Joshua possesses one of the best straight right hands and uppercuts in the division. His combination punching, when he lets his hands go, is fluid and destructive (e.g., the Ngannou finish).
- Athleticism & Size: He remains a physical specimen: strong, tall (6’6″), and athletic. He manages distance well when he is confident.
- Professionalism: Joshua is the ultimate professional outside and inside the ring kind of guy. He is always in shape and takes training camps seriously, regardless of the opponent.
Weaknesses
- Punch Resistance (The “Chin” Issue): The loss to Dubois confirmed what was suspected after the Andy Ruiz Jr. defeat (2019). Joshua struggles to recover when hurt. Once his legs are gone, he rarely survives the round against elite finishers.
- Defensive Responsibility: He has a habit of pulling back in straight lines or leaving his chin exposed when throwing the rear uppercut: a flaw Dubois exploited perfectly.
- Psychological Fragility: Joshua often overthinks in the ring. Against Oleksandr Usyk, he was too tentative; against Dubois, he panicked under pressure. He struggles to adapt when “Plan A” fails.
Anthony Joshua’s Legacy
Regardless of his current form, Anthony Joshua’s impact on British and global boxing is secure.
- Resurrected British Boxing: He single-handedly sold out stadiums (Wembley, Principality, Tottenham) consistently, bringing boxing back to the mainstream in the UK. What a legacy!
- Resume: His resume is deeper than most of his peers. Wins over Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Dillian Whyte, and Andy Ruiz Jr. (rematch) prove he fought the best of his era.
- The “Undisputed” Miss: His biggest failure will be never achieving undisputed status or defeating his two biggest generational rivals: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk (0-2 vs. Usyk).
Conclusion
Anthony Joshua is a legend who stayed at the party perhaps a bit too long. The fighter who knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 appears to be gone, replaced by a veteran who is still dangerous but vulnerable.
If you are watching him in December 2025 against Jake Paul, you are watching a superstar taking a victory lap, not a contender marching toward gold. He remains a must-watch attraction, and a force to be reckoned with, but the aura of invincibility has been permanently shattered. Or maybe not, only time shall tell