Post-fight, one of the most talked-about moments occurred ringside. Joshua, in a display of sportsmanship that drew widespread admiration, made his way through the crowd to personally approach Paul’s parents, Gregory and Pam Stepnick.
Confirming she was Jake’s mother, Joshua offered a brief apology, saying, “It’s just a fight,” and “It’s just the fight game.” Stepnick later praised the gesture on her son Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, noting, “Even Anthony Joshua had some class.
However, Stepnick’s emotions ran high in other directions. Appearing on the same podcast shortly after the bout, she expressed intense frustration—not toward Joshua, whom she respected for his composure and apology—but at promoter Eddie Hearn.
She described wanting to “get in that ring and punch Eddie Hearn” due to his perceived smug celebration while her son was struggling and later injured. “He literally thinks he’s better than everyone in the world,” she said of Hearn.
“Jake’s over there struggling and he’s sitting over there smiling like the cat who swallowed the cream. Guess what? Did he f****** get in the ring? It’s sick.”
Social media, ever quick to amplify and distort, soon twisted these raw, maternal sentiments into exaggerated claims.
Viral posts and memes began circulating suggesting Stepnick was directly challenging Anthony Joshua’s mother, Yeta Odusanya, to a “revenge” bout or some form of maternal showdown, framing it as “if AJ handled Jake, then it’s only right the moms settle it next.” The narrative painted a picture of escalating family drama, with Stepnick supposedly demanding a grudge match to avenge her son’s defeat.
In reality, no such challenge exists. Stepnick’s comments were directed squarely at Hearn and the broader spectacle, not Odusanya or anyone in Joshua’s camp.
Odusanya, who raised Joshua largely as a single mother after separating from his father when Anthony was 12, has remained a low-key but supportive figure throughout her son’s career. Joshua has often spoken of her as his priority, crediting her for his grounding amid fame and fortune.
The misinformation highlights how quickly online narratives can spin out of control, especially in the hyper-charged world of influencer boxing. Paul’s crossover appeal has always thrived on controversy, trash talk, and family involvement—his brother Logan frequently co-hosts discussions, and their mother has occasionally weighed in on family matters.
But this time, the viral twist turned a protective mother’s honest frustration into a fabricated feud that never happened.
Meanwhile, the actual fallout continues to focus on the fight’s implications. Paul, who entered with a record of 12-1 (with his only prior loss a decision), now sits at 12-2 and has hinted at continuing his career after recovery, despite the setback.
Joshua, improving to 29-4, used the win to call out Tyson Fury for a potential all-British blockbuster, reaffirming his status among the heavyweight elite.
As the dust settles on this Netflix-streamed spectacle—which drew massive global viewership—it’s clear the real story lies in the contrast: Joshua’s quiet professionalism inside and outside the ring versus the ongoing noise of the Paul brand.
Pam Stepnick’s candid words underscored a mother’s protective instinct, but they were never about starting a family rivalry. In boxing, as in life, sometimes the loudest headlines are the ones that stray furthest from the truth.
As the dust settles on this Netflix-streamed spectacle—which drew massive global viewership—it’s clear the real story lies in the contrast: Joshua’s quiet professionalism inside and outside the ring versus the ongoing noise of the Paul brand.
