Boxing legend Lennox Lewis has pinpointed Jake Paul’s physical unpreparedness as the key factor in his sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. The former undisputed heavyweight champion observed that Paul couldn’t withstand the demands of facing an elite heavyweight boxer.
“Paul wasn’t in good shape, especially against a big heavyweight,” Lewis stated during his Netflix analysis. “After a couple rounds, it became obvious he was just standing there waiting to get hit.”
Lewis, a three-time world champion, also noted Joshua’s extended 15-month ring absence impacted the fight’s pacing. This marked Joshua’s first bout since his September 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
“Anthony’s inactivity showed,” Lewis explained. “He needed rounds to warm up and regain ring familiarity before unleashing his power. He handled the challenge well against an opponent moving constantly.”
Former super middleweight champion Andre Ward offered nuanced analysis of Paul’s performance. “Paul panicked when fatigue set in,” Ward noted. “He actually helped Joshua by showing decent early success. Credit to Paul for making it competitive initially.”
British boxer Chris Eubank Jr praised Paul’s courage despite the outcome. “Regardless of the result, Paul faced an Olympic gold medalist and former world champion,” Eubank wrote on social media. “He deserves respect for attempting what most wouldn’t and fighting until the end.”
Former heavyweight champion David Haye acknowledged Paul’s competitiveness while
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