Anthony Joshua says Topuria’s defeat shows fight game is no joke

Anthony Joshua Ilia Topuria Justin Gaethje fight game seriousness upcoming Saudi Arabia bout

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua said that watching Ilia Topuria lose to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 forced him to cut off contact with friends and step back from social media. Joshua described the knockout‑stop on Topuria’s stool as a stark reminder that "the fight game is not a joke" and that elite combat athletes face serious health risks.

He highlighted how the upset, in which the previously unbeaten Georgian‑Spanish lightweight was stopped after four rounds, changed his mindset about preparation and personal interactions. Joshua is now focused on his own comeback, scheduled for July 25 against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a bout aimed at positioning him for a potential late‑2026 showdown with Tyson Fury.

Sources

Anthony Joshua cuts contact after Ilia Topuria upset loss [boxingnews.com]

10 days ago

Así cambió a Anthony Joshua la derrota de Ilia Topuria en UFC Freedom 250: "El mundo de las peleas no es una broma. . . " [www.mundodeportivo.com]

10 days ago

Anthony Joshua: Topuria’s Gaethje Defeat Reminded Me "The Fight Game Is Not A Joke" [www.lowkickmma.com]

10 days ago