LAGOS, Nigeria (FN) — Anthony Joshua, the British two‑time world heavyweight boxing champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, scored a sixth‑round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami last month in a fight that generated the richest purse of 2025 at $267 million.
Joshua’s emphatic victory at Hard Rock Stadium drew 19,600 fans and more than two million online searches, underscoring his enduring global appeal. The bout was ranked the second‑biggest fight of the year overall, behind Terence Crawford’s clash with Canelo Alvarez, which drew 70,400 spectators and a $200 million purse.
The Miami win marked Joshua’s successful return to the ring after his September 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Analysts said the victory restored momentum to his career and reaffirmed his status as one of boxing’s most marketable stars.
However, tragedy struck just 10 days later. On December 29, Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Joshua sustained minor injuries in the accident and has since returned to the United Kingdom. His uncle, Adedamola Joshua, told PUNCH Sports Extra that the boxer has decided to retire from the sport following the incident.
Joshua’s career has been defined by triumphs and resilience. He won Olympic gold in London in 2012 and went on to unify the heavyweight division, holding the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles during his reigns. His fights against Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr., and Oleksandr Usyk were among the most watched of the past decade.
The $267 million purse from the Joshua‑Paul fight underscored his enduring commercial appeal. Even as he approached the later stages of his career, Joshua remained capable of headlining blockbuster events that blended traditional boxing prestige with crossover celebrity spectacle.
His retirement leaves a significant void in the heavyweight division. Promoters had speculated about future bouts with Tyson Fury or a rematch with Usyk, but those plans now appear unlikely.
For fans, Joshua’s decision is bittersweet — a champion who returned to winning ways only to step away after personal tragedy. His legacy as a two‑time unified champion and Olympic gold medalist is secure, but his career ends abruptly at a moment of renewed success.
As the boxing world reflects on Joshua’s journey, his story now carries both the triumph of global stardom and the heartbreak of loss, a reminder of the fragility of life beyond the ring.
By Ntakima
