British boxing star Anthony Joshua has spoken candidly about a recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout that he says fundamentally changed his outlook on professional fighting. Joshua, a former two-time unified world heavyweight champion, pointed to the lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje in June as the moment his perspective shifted, underscoring the brutal realities of the sport.
The fight, which took place at the White House, saw Gaethje, aged 37, secure a major upset by stopping the previously undefeated Spanish-Georgian fighter, Topuria, between the fourth and fifth rounds. Beyond the unexpected result, Topuria sustained severe facial injuries, appearing almost unrecognisable by the time the fight was halted. This visual impact, combined with Topuria's perceived pre-fight confidence despite the odds, resonated deeply with Joshua.
Speaking to Combat Evolved, Joshua explained, "I think you've got to be in the fight game to truly know, like, it's not 'lit'. It's not what people think it is, it's not all fun and games. It's a serious, serious, serious job, man." He added that watching Topuria, who he believed was 'destined' to win, suffer such a comprehensive defeat and physical damage, reinforced his belief that the sport demands an unwavering, focused approach.
For Joshua, the incident served as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of combat sports. He indicated that witnessing the fight prompted him to re-evaluate his own approach, leading him to become "less accessible" and "uncontactable" in preparation for his own return to the ring. This renewed focus comes as Joshua prepares for his first fight since being involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria in December, which tragically claimed the lives of two of his teammates.
Joshua is scheduled to make his comeback on 25 July in Saudi Arabia, where he will face Kristian Prenga in a warm-up bout. This fight is intended to prepare him for a highly anticipated all-British super-fight against Tyson Fury, though a date and venue for that clash are yet to be confirmed, with Wembley Stadium currently considered the leading contender. Fury himself is set to have his own warm-up fight against Mariusz Wach in Thailand one day prior to Joshua's return.