As the final bell echoed across the arena in Miami, signaling yet another victory for Anthony Joshua, the heavyweight titan did not appear as a man basking in the glow of triumph. Instead, in a raw and edgy conversation with reporter Michelle Joy Fel, Joshua revealed a deeply conflicted inner world and a grim outlook on the future of his own legacy.

The Obsession with Perfection

Despite a dominant performance on the scorecards, Joshua entered the post-fight space with a calmness that bordered on heavy-heartedness. When asked how he was feeling, he admitted a truth that caught many off guard: “I feel mixed. It’s good to get the win, but there’s a lot I could have done better.”

For Joshua, victory is no longer defined merely by the referee raising his hand. He ruminated over his inability to close the ring earlier and his failure to execute in the opening round what he eventually did in the second. This relentless self-criticism is the engine that drove him to the summit of the boxing world, yet it also seems to be the chain that prevents him from ever truly tasting joy.

The “Hot Seat” and the Fickleness of the Media

The conversation took a sharp turn toward the weight of public expectation—a realm Joshua describes as notoriously volatile. Reporter Michelle Joy Fel pressed him on how he maintains his composure when the media can deify him one moment and demonize him the next.

Joshua was candid about his philosophy of the “Hot Seat.” “I understand the cycle,” he explained. “While I’m in the hot seat, I’ve got to take everything that comes with it—the good and the bad.” He revealed that survival in the elite ranks requires “tough skin,” focusing strictly on constructive positives while muting the noise of a fickle public that turns on its heroes at the first sign of weakness.

A Haunting Forecast of Oblivion

Perhaps the most jarring moment of the interview was Joshua’s pragmatic, almost cynical, view of his eventual retirement. While most icons spend their twilight years chasing immortality, Joshua is already making peace with being forgotten.

“Once I move on from this hot seat, no one is going to care about me anyway,” the champion admitted with startling bluntness. He harbors no illusions about the permanence of fame. He envisions a future just a few years away where he will be a mere spectator, watching from the sidelines as a new protagonist occupies the same “hot seat,” enduring the same scrutiny he faces today.

The Resilience of a Giant

Joshua did not exit the interview seeking sympathy. Instead, he chose to face the reality that glory is fleeting and public adoration is conditional. This stoic realization highlights both the iron will of a fighter and a chilling reminder of the toll extracted by life at the top.

As the boxing world celebrates his latest win, Anthony Joshua appears to be quietly preparing for a different kind of fight—one against time and the inevitable shadow of anonymity that awaits on the other side of his career.