Anthony Joshua has revealed that the recent UFC fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje significantly shifted his perspective on the fight game. In June, Gaethje achieved a stunning victory, stopping Topuria between the fourth and fifth rounds at the White House, thus claiming the lightweight title from Topuria, who faced his first defeat.

The fight was particularly notable as Topuria suffered extensive facial injuries, leaving him nearly unrecognizable when he retired on his stool before the final round. Joshua shared his thoughts in an interview with Combat Evolved, emphasizing the seriousness of fighting:

"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."

Joshua expressed that witnessing the fight made him reconsider his engagement with fans and the public:

• He recognized Topuria as a fighter who seemed destined to win, noting the odds were in his favor.
• He mentioned Topuria's pre-fight celebrations and concluded that it was a reminder of the fight game’s gravity.

In his upcoming schedule, Joshua is set to return to the ring in Saudi Arabia on 25 July, marking his first fight since surviving a tragic car accident in December that claimed the lives of two teammates. On that date, he will face Kristian Prenga as a precursor to a long-anticipated bout against Tyson Fury, which is still without a confirmed date but is expected to take place at Wembley Stadium.