Anthony Joshua, A Great Boxer With Nigerian Roots
Anthony Joshua birth name is Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, he was born on 15 October 1989. He has a boxing record of 23 wins ,21 by ko and has lost just once in his boxing career. Anthony Joshua was born in Watford (England) but lived his childhood life in Nigeria. His parent got divorced when he was just 12 ,so he decided to go back to England to continue his studies. At the age of 18, his cousin advised him to take into boxing in which he did in due course. In 2007 Joshua came back to Nigeria with the intention of representing his country in the 2008 beijing olympics. He wanted a chance to compete for trials ahead of the Olympics qualifiers, but he was rejected. Joshua disappointed with how he was denied and not given a chance went back to England. He represented Great Britain and won the gold which should have been a gold for Nigeria if they had given him a chance. Joshua boom into the ring and became the GB amatuer boxing champion by defeating Amin Isa. He continued to best opponents in the ring which lead him to be announced as the Amateur boxer of the year by the Boxing writers club of Britain in October 2011. Despite Joshua still new to boxing ,he went on to defeat big names like Emanuele Leo, Denis Baghtov clinching his second WBC International Heavyweight title, Dillian Whyte who put his undefeated record at risk and pocketed $3m for the fight. In 2016 Joshua defeated Charles Martin winning his first ever world title. On June 1, 2019 Joshua suffered his first loss in the hands of Andy Ruiz via TKO in the 7th round ,However Joshua defeated Ruiz in a rematch on December 7, 2019, becoming a two-time unified heavyweight champion. Other than Legends like Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson, few boxers have dominated the heavyweight division of boxing like Joshua.
Anthony Joshua, A Great Boxer With Nigerian Roots
Anthony Joshua birth name is Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, he was born on 15 October 1989. He has a boxing record of 23 wins ,21 by ko and has lost just once in his boxing career. Anthony Joshua was born in Watford (England) but lived his childhood life in Nigeria. His parent got divorced when he was just 12 ,so he decided to go back to England to continue his studies. At the age of 18, his cousin advised him to take into boxing in which he did in due course. In 2007 Joshua came back to Nigeria with the intention of representing his country in the 2008 beijing olympics. He wanted a chance to compete for trials ahead of the Olympics qualifiers, but he was rejected. Joshua disappointed with how he was denied and not given a chance went back to England. He represented Great Britain and won the gold which should have been a gold for Nigeria if they had given him a chance. Joshua boom into the ring and became the GB amatuer boxing champion by defeating Amin Isa. He continued to best opponents in the ring which lead him to be announced as the Amateur boxer of the year by the Boxing writers club of Britain in October 2011. Despite Joshua still new to boxing ,he went on to defeat big names like Emanuele Leo, Denis Baghtov clinching his second WBC International Heavyweight title, Dillian Whyte who put his undefeated record at risk and pocketed $3m for the fight. In 2016 Joshua defeated Charles Martin winning his first ever world title. On June 1, 2019 Joshua suffered his first loss in the hands of Andy Ruiz via TKO in the 7th round ,However Joshua defeated Ruiz in a rematch on December 7, 2019, becoming a two-time unified heavyweight champion. Other than Legends like Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson, few boxers have dominated the heavyweight division of boxing like Joshua.
Anthony Joshua, A Great Boxer With Nigerian Roots
Anthony Joshua birth name is Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, he was born on 15 October 1989. He has a boxing record of 23 wins ,21 by ko and has lost just once in his boxing career. Anthony Joshua was born in Watford (England) but lived his childhood life in Nigeria. His parent got divorced when he was just 12 ,so he decided to go back to England to continue his studies. At the age of 18, his cousin advised him to take into boxing in which he did in due course. In 2007 Joshua came back to Nigeria with the intention of representing his country in the 2008 beijing olympics. He wanted a chance to compete for trials ahead of the Olympics qualifiers, but he was rejected. Joshua disappointed with how he was denied and not given a chance went back to England. He represented Great Britain and won the gold which should have been a gold for Nigeria if they had given him a chance. Joshua boom into the ring and became the GB amatuer boxing champion by defeating Amin Isa. He continued to best opponents in the ring which lead him to be announced as the Amateur boxer of the year by the Boxing writers club of Britain in October 2011. Despite Joshua still new to boxing ,he went on to defeat big names like Emanuele Leo, Denis Baghtov clinching his second WBC International Heavyweight title, Dillian Whyte who put his undefeated record at risk and pocketed $3m for the fight. In 2016 Joshua defeated Charles Martin winning his first ever world title. On June 1, 2019 Joshua suffered his first loss in the hands of Andy Ruiz via TKO in the 7th round ,However Joshua defeated Ruiz in a rematch on December 7, 2019, becoming a two-time unified heavyweight champion. Other than Legends like Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson, few boxers have dominated the heavyweight division of boxing like Joshua.
AJ making other Heavyweights look like big babies
So I've been watching the build-up to the Heavyweight boxing title clash between Champion Anthony Joshua and American Jarrell Miller and laughing at the shenanigans. Where were they? Let’s set the scene. The month is October 2013 and Olympic Super Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua is making his professional debut against 8-0 Emanuele Leo. Wladimir Klitschko, the long reign Heavyweight Champion is defending his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles his title against 26-0 Alexander Povetkin. His brother Vitali is the WBC champion in recess. Another Heavyweight is fighting that month. In his 5-year boxing career, he is unbeaten in 30 fights. His name is Deontay Wilder and he is defending his WBC *Continental Americas* Heavyweight title against 21-10-1 Nicolai Firtha. One fighter not fighting that month is another unbeaten fighter, 5 years into his career. That’s 21-0 Tyson Fury. Jarrell Miller, also undefeated in his 4-year career had racked up 7 wins. However only one of those wins was against a fighter with a winning record. When Joshua was making his debut, Wilder, Fury and Miller were around 5-years deep into their career. None of them had fought for a World title. With all due respect, none of them had faced a top contender. Where is he? Fast forward to today. Joshua now is 5-year into his career. He has not only fought for the Heavyweight title, but he has also defended it 6 times. Picking up the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles on the way. He has fought and beat 6 (previously) undefeated fighters. He has beat the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker, Dillian Whyte, Carlos Takam, and Dominic Breazeale. With Parker being the only fighter he got into the ring with Joshua and survived until the final bell. As a result of his achievements in the ring and his business acumen outside it, Joshua is a Pay-Per-View draw who sells out 80,000 seater stadiums in the UK. He has established himself as the money fight in the Heavyweight division, if not the whole of boxing. Who is dodging who? Yet… there is a narrative being banding around that Anthony Joshua is dodging hard fights. I had to laugh when I heard Miller accuse Joshua of ‘playing a role’. Correct. Joshua is playing the role of a fighter that takes on the toughest challenges and handles his business outside the ring the right way. Whatever Miller says… he has the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. I heard Dillian Whyte say Joshua ‘doesn’t want to fight anybody.’ He has got to be joking right? Didn’t Joshua fight him? Didn’t Joshua offer Whyte a rematch? Whyte claimed it was a ‘low ball’ offer however it was more money than Whyte has previously received for a fight by a long way. I understand Dillian Whyte wanted a rematch clause where the terms would be reversed should he win. Is he serious? He does realise that Joshua is the main draw and that he lost the first fight with Joshua. Joshua would be crazy to offer a rematch (as a voluntary defence) whereby Whyte gets a lion share of any potential rubber-match. Whatever Whyte says… he passed on the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Wilder has mentioned he wants ‘one face, one name, one champion’ and that Joshua passed on a $50m payday. Okay, that disputed but let’s take it as read. What did Wilder turn down? Whatever Wilder says… he passed on the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Fury talks about the ‘biggest (Joshua) let down was not taking the Wilder fight’. Is he serious? Whatever Fury says… he has the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Accidental classic Also it took 10-years of being undefeated professionals for Fury and Wilder to face each other. Credit to Fury, he rolled the dice against Wilder having been out for so long. However it was obvious that Wilder took the fight on the mistaken belief that Fury was washed up. Had Fury not had his hiatus I wonder how long it would have taken to get a Fury-Wilder fight? Both fighters can take credit for it being a great fight, that highlighted their strengths and weakness. The bout ending in a draw suited both fighters in a way. Wilder gets to keep his belts knowing that he had Fury all but KO'd. Fury can claim a moral victory without the pressure of having to defend or unify belts. All of a sudden, Fury and Wilder aren’t so keen to rush into a rematch. They can make good money in tune-up fight or two before going again. Make it easy Boxing is a tough sport. I don't begrudge anyone making moves to maximise their revenue ahead of taking on the killers in the division. What I find more difficult to get my head around is Heavyweights bitching about Joshua of taking the 'easy' route (when he has in reality taken the harder fights, in a shorter timespan) yet taking shortcuts themselves as soon as it is commercially viable to do so. Pretty much every fighter complaining about Joshua ‘dodging them’ has passed on the chance of fighting AJ, earning their biggest payday (by a long way) and challenging for the belts. Ironically it is a combination of Joshua and DAZN (fronted by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn) that has given them that luxury. Joshua and the new streaming service have meant there are now bumper paydays all around in the Heavyweight division. Upper tier Heavyweights have never had it so good than the current crop (relative to their abilities). Who’s the man In the 5-years after Wilder and Fury turned pros, no-one was interested in the Heavyweight division. Their resume of opponents, fighting styles and promotion left much to be deserved. Even after beating Klitschko, people applauded Fury’s achievement but were nonplused by the performance of both fighters. In his 5-year pro career, Joshua has breathed life and money in the marquee boxing division. Exciting fights in showcase events against tough opposition. Everyone is claiming to be ‘the man’ at heavyweight. There is only one guy that has really picked up the mantle in the last 5 years and he has the belts to prove it.
AJ making other Heavyweights look like big babies
So I've been watching the build-up to the Heavyweight boxing title clash between Champion Anthony Joshua and American Jarrell Miller and laughing at the shenanigans. Where were they? Let’s set the scene. The month is October 2013 and Olympic Super Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua is making his professional debut against 8-0 Emanuele Leo. Wladimir Klitschko, the long reign Heavyweight Champion is defending his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles his title against 26-0 Alexander Povetkin. His brother Vitali is the WBC champion in recess. Another Heavyweight is fighting that month. In his 5-year boxing career, he is unbeaten in 30 fights. His name is Deontay Wilder and he is defending his WBC *Continental Americas* Heavyweight title against 21-10-1 Nicolai Firtha. One fighter not fighting that month is another unbeaten fighter, 5 years into his career. That’s 21-0 Tyson Fury. Jarrell Miller, also undefeated in his 4-year career had racked up 7 wins. However only one of those wins was against a fighter with a winning record. When Joshua was making his debut, Wilder, Fury and Miller were around 5-years deep into their career. None of them had fought for a World title. With all due respect, none of them had faced a top contender. Where is he? Fast forward to today. Joshua now is 5-year into his career. He has not only fought for the Heavyweight title, but he has also defended it 6 times. Picking up the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles on the way. He has fought and beat 6 (previously) undefeated fighters. He has beat the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker, Dillian Whyte, Carlos Takam, and Dominic Breazeale. With Parker being the only fighter he got into the ring with Joshua and survived until the final bell. As a result of his achievements in the ring and his business acumen outside it, Joshua is a Pay-Per-View draw who sells out 80,000 seater stadiums in the UK. He has established himself as the money fight in the Heavyweight division, if not the whole of boxing. Who is dodging who? Yet… there is a narrative being banding around that Anthony Joshua is dodging hard fights. I had to laugh when I heard Miller accuse Joshua of ‘playing a role’. Correct. Joshua is playing the role of a fighter that takes on the toughest challenges and handles his business outside the ring the right way. Whatever Miller says… he has the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. I heard Dillian Whyte say Joshua ‘doesn’t want to fight anybody.’ He has got to be joking right? Didn’t Joshua fight him? Didn’t Joshua offer Whyte a rematch? Whyte claimed it was a ‘low ball’ offer however it was more money than Whyte has previously received for a fight by a long way. I understand Dillian Whyte wanted a rematch clause where the terms would be reversed should he win. Is he serious? He does realise that Joshua is the main draw and that he lost the first fight with Joshua. Joshua would be crazy to offer a rematch (as a voluntary defence) whereby Whyte gets a lion share of any potential rubber-match. Whatever Whyte says… he passed on the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Wilder has mentioned he wants ‘one face, one name, one champion’ and that Joshua passed on a $50m payday. Okay, that disputed but let’s take it as read. What did Wilder turn down? Whatever Wilder says… he passed on the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Fury talks about the ‘biggest (Joshua) let down was not taking the Wilder fight’. Is he serious? Whatever Fury says… he has the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Accidental classic Also it took 10-years of being undefeated professionals for Fury and Wilder to face each other. Credit to Fury, he rolled the dice against Wilder having been out for so long. However it was obvious that Wilder took the fight on the mistaken belief that Fury was washed up. Had Fury not had his hiatus I wonder how long it would have taken to get a Fury-Wilder fight? Both fighters can take credit for it being a great fight, that highlighted their strengths and weakness. The bout ending in a draw suited both fighters in a way. Wilder gets to keep his belts knowing that he had Fury all but KO'd. Fury can claim a moral victory without the pressure of having to defend or unify belts. All of a sudden, Fury and Wilder aren’t so keen to rush into a rematch. They can make good money in tune-up fight or two before going again. Make it easy Boxing is a tough sport. I don't begrudge anyone making moves to maximise their revenue ahead of taking on the killers in the division. What I find more difficult to get my head around is Heavyweights bitching about Joshua of taking the 'easy' route (when he has in reality taken the harder fights, in a shorter timespan) yet taking shortcuts themselves as soon as it is commercially viable to do so. Pretty much every fighter complaining about Joshua ‘dodging them’ has passed on the chance of fighting AJ, earning their biggest payday (by a long way) and challenging for the belts. Ironically it is a combination of Joshua and DAZN (fronted by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn) that has given them that luxury. Joshua and the new streaming service have meant there are now bumper paydays all around in the Heavyweight division. Upper tier Heavyweights have never had it so good than the current crop (relative to their abilities). Who’s the man In the 5-years after Wilder and Fury turned pros, no-one was interested in the Heavyweight division. Their resume of opponents, fighting styles and promotion left much to be deserved. Even after beating Klitschko, people applauded Fury’s achievement but were nonplused by the performance of both fighters. In his 5-year pro career, Joshua has breathed life and money in the marquee boxing division. Exciting fights in showcase events against tough opposition. Everyone is claiming to be ‘the man’ at heavyweight. There is only one guy that has really picked up the mantle in the last 5 years and he has the belts to prove it.
AJ making other Heavyweights look like big babies
So I've been watching the build-up to the Heavyweight boxing title clash between Champion Anthony Joshua and American Jarrell Miller and laughing at the shenanigans. Where were they? Let’s set the scene. The month is October 2013 and Olympic Super Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua is making his professional debut against 8-0 Emanuele Leo. Wladimir Klitschko, the long reign Heavyweight Champion is defending his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles his title against 26-0 Alexander Povetkin. His brother Vitali is the WBC champion in recess. Another Heavyweight is fighting that month. In his 5-year boxing career, he is unbeaten in 30 fights. His name is Deontay Wilder and he is defending his WBC *Continental Americas* Heavyweight title against 21-10-1 Nicolai Firtha. One fighter not fighting that month is another unbeaten fighter, 5 years into his career. That’s 21-0 Tyson Fury. Jarrell Miller, also undefeated in his 4-year career had racked up 7 wins. However only one of those wins was against a fighter with a winning record. When Joshua was making his debut, Wilder, Fury and Miller were around 5-years deep into their career. None of them had fought for a World title. With all due respect, none of them had faced a top contender. Where is he? Fast forward to today. Joshua now is 5-year into his career. He has not only fought for the Heavyweight title, but he has also defended it 6 times. Picking up the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles on the way. He has fought and beat 6 (previously) undefeated fighters. He has beat the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker, Dillian Whyte, Carlos Takam, and Dominic Breazeale. With Parker being the only fighter he got into the ring with Joshua and survived until the final bell. As a result of his achievements in the ring and his business acumen outside it, Joshua is a Pay-Per-View draw who sells out 80,000 seater stadiums in the UK. He has established himself as the money fight in the Heavyweight division, if not the whole of boxing. Who is dodging who? Yet… there is a narrative being banding around that Anthony Joshua is dodging hard fights. I had to laugh when I heard Miller accuse Joshua of ‘playing a role’. Correct. Joshua is playing the role of a fighter that takes on the toughest challenges and handles his business outside the ring the right way. Whatever Miller says… he has the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. I heard Dillian Whyte say Joshua ‘doesn’t want to fight anybody.’ He has got to be joking right? Didn’t Joshua fight him? Didn’t Joshua offer Whyte a rematch? Whyte claimed it was a ‘low ball’ offer however it was more money than Whyte has previously received for a fight by a long way. I understand Dillian Whyte wanted a rematch clause where the terms would be reversed should he win. Is he serious? He does realise that Joshua is the main draw and that he lost the first fight with Joshua. Joshua would be crazy to offer a rematch (as a voluntary defence) whereby Whyte gets a lion share of any potential rubber-match. Whatever Whyte says… he passed on the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Wilder has mentioned he wants ‘one face, one name, one champion’ and that Joshua passed on a $50m payday. Okay, that disputed but let’s take it as read. What did Wilder turn down? Whatever Wilder says… he passed on the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Fury talks about the ‘biggest (Joshua) let down was not taking the Wilder fight’. Is he serious? Whatever Fury says… he has the chance to fight for his biggest payday and the belts. Accidental classic Also it took 10-years of being undefeated professionals for Fury and Wilder to face each other. Credit to Fury, he rolled the dice against Wilder having been out for so long. However it was obvious that Wilder took the fight on the mistaken belief that Fury was washed up. Had Fury not had his hiatus I wonder how long it would have taken to get a Fury-Wilder fight? Both fighters can take credit for it being a great fight, that highlighted their strengths and weakness. The bout ending in a draw suited both fighters in a way. Wilder gets to keep his belts knowing that he had Fury all but KO'd. Fury can claim a moral victory without the pressure of having to defend or unify belts. All of a sudden, Fury and Wilder aren’t so keen to rush into a rematch. They can make good money in tune-up fight or two before going again. Make it easy Boxing is a tough sport. I don't begrudge anyone making moves to maximise their revenue ahead of taking on the killers in the division. What I find more difficult to get my head around is Heavyweights bitching about Joshua of taking the 'easy' route (when he has in reality taken the harder fights, in a shorter timespan) yet taking shortcuts themselves as soon as it is commercially viable to do so. Pretty much every fighter complaining about Joshua ‘dodging them’ has passed on the chance of fighting AJ, earning their biggest payday (by a long way) and challenging for the belts. Ironically it is a combination of Joshua and DAZN (fronted by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn) that has given them that luxury. Joshua and the new streaming service have meant there are now bumper paydays all around in the Heavyweight division. Upper tier Heavyweights have never had it so good than the current crop (relative to their abilities). Who’s the man In the 5-years after Wilder and Fury turned pros, no-one was interested in the Heavyweight division. Their resume of opponents, fighting styles and promotion left much to be deserved. Even after beating Klitschko, people applauded Fury’s achievement but were nonplused by the performance of both fighters. In his 5-year pro career, Joshua has breathed life and money in the marquee boxing division. Exciting fights in showcase events against tough opposition. Everyone is claiming to be ‘the man’ at heavyweight. There is only one guy that has really picked up the mantle in the last 5 years and he has the belts to prove it.