Anthony Joshua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anthony Joshua |
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Joshua in 2017
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| Statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | AJ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rated at | Heavyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 82 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 October 1989 Watford, England |
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| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua (born 15 October 1989), often called AJ, is a famous British professional boxer. He has been the world heavyweight champion two times, holding many important boxing titles between 2016 and 2021.
Before becoming a professional, Joshua was a very successful amateur boxer. He won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships and then a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. After turning professional, he quickly became a top boxer. In 2014, The Ring magazine named him their "Prospect of the Year."
He won his first world title, the IBF heavyweight title, in April 2016 by beating Charles Martin. Later, he added the WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles by defeating boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. This fight was even named "Fight of the Year." In 2018, he also won the WBO heavyweight title from Joseph Parker.
Anthony Joshua lost his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019 but won them back in a rematch later that year. He lost his titles again in 2021 to Oleksandr Usyk and was defeated by Usyk in their rematch in 2022. In September 2024, he fought for the IBF heavyweight title again but lost to Daniel Dubois.
Contents
- Early Life and Beginnings
- Amateur Boxing Career
- Professional Boxing Career
- Personal Life
- Professional Boxing Record
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and Beginnings
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born on 15 October 1989 in Watford, England. His mother is Nigerian, and his father has both Nigerian and Irish family roots. Anthony spent some of his early years in Nigeria as a student.
When he was younger, Anthony was very good at sports like football and athletics. He even broke his school's record for the 100-meter sprint! His friends and teachers called him "Femi," which comes from his middle name, Oluwafemi.
Amateur Boxing Career
Anthony Joshua started boxing quite late, at the age of 18 in 2007. His cousin suggested he try it. He trained at Finchley ABC in North London.
He quickly became successful, winning the Haringey Box Cup in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he won the senior ABA Championships in only his 18th fight. He even turned down a large sum of money (about £50,000) to become a professional boxer early on. He said he wanted to win medals, not just money. He won the same tournament again the next year.
His success led him to join the GB Boxing team in 2010. He became the British amateur champion that year. At the 2011 European Championships, he performed well but was stopped by Romanian boxer Mihai Nistor. In October 2011, he was named Amateur Boxer of the Year. Joshua had an impressive amateur record of 40 wins and only 3 losses.
At the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Azerbaijan, Joshua showed he was a rising star. He beat the reigning world and Olympic champion, Roberto Cammarelle, from Italy. He then reached the final, where he won a silver medal. This performance also secured his spot at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Joshua was considered a newcomer to the top level of boxing. He had a tough first fight against Cuban boxer Erislandy Savón, but he won by a very close score. In his next fight, he defeated Zhang Zhilei from China, guaranteeing himself at least a bronze medal. He then beat Ivan Dychko from Kazakhstan to reach the final.
In the Olympic final, Joshua faced Roberto Cammarelle again. After a very close fight, Joshua was announced as the winner and the new Olympic champion! This decision was debated by some experts, but it was a huge moment for Joshua. For his achievements in boxing, he was given the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2013.
Amateur Highlights
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Professional Boxing Career
Anthony Joshua officially became a professional boxer on 11 July 2013, joining Matchroom Sport.
Early Professional Fights
Joshua's first professional fight was on 5 October 2013, at the O2 Arena in London. He won by a technical knockout (TKO) in the first round. He continued to win his early fights, mostly by knockout, showing his power. By October 2014, in only his ninth professional fight, he won his first professional title, the WBC International heavyweight title, at just 24 years old.
He kept winning, often finishing his opponents quickly. In May 2015, he defeated Kevin Johnson, who had never been stopped in his career before.
British and Commonwealth Champion
In September 2015, Joshua fought Gary Cornish for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title. He won very quickly, stopping Cornish in just 90 seconds of the first round.
Next, Joshua faced Dillian Whyte in December 2015. This was a big fight because they had fought before as amateurs, with Whyte winning that time. Joshua won this rematch by knockout in the seventh round, also winning the vacant British heavyweight title.
IBF Heavyweight Champion
In April 2016, Joshua fought Charles Martin for the IBF heavyweight title. Joshua won by knockout in the second round, becoming a world champion for the first time. Martin's reign as champion was one of the shortest in boxing history.
Joshua then defended his IBF title against Dominic Breazeale in June 2016, winning by knockout in the seventh round. In December 2016, he defended it again against Éric Molina, winning by knockout in the third round.
First Reign as Unified Heavyweight Champion
Joshua vs. Klitschko
On 29 April 2017, Anthony Joshua faced boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in London. This was a huge fight for the IBF, WBA (Super), and IBO heavyweight titles. A massive crowd of 90,000 fans watched the fight.
Joshua won by TKO in the eleventh round in a very exciting fight. Both boxers were knocked down during the match. Joshua called out Tyson Fury after the fight, saying he wanted to fight all the top boxers. This fight was a huge success, watched by millions around the world.
Joshua vs. Takam
After Klitschko retired, Joshua was ordered to defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev. However, Pulev got injured, and Carlos Takam stepped in to fight Joshua on short notice in October 2017. Joshua won by TKO in the tenth round, keeping his world titles.
Joshua vs. Parker
In March 2018, Joshua fought Joseph Parker to unify more titles. Joshua won by a unanimous decision after 12 rounds, adding Parker's WBO heavyweight title to his collection. This was the first time Joshua had to go the full distance in a professional fight.
Joshua vs. Povetkin
In September 2018, Joshua defended his unified titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium. Povetkin was a tough opponent, but Joshua eventually knocked him out in the seventh round.
Joshua vs. Ruiz Jr.
In June 2019, Joshua made his US debut at Madison Square Garden in New York City against Andy Ruiz Jr.. This fight was a big upset. Joshua knocked Ruiz down early, but Ruiz came back strong, knocking Joshua down multiple times. Ruiz won by TKO in the seventh round, taking all of Joshua's heavyweight titles. This was considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Second Reign as Unified Heavyweight Champion
Joshua vs. Ruiz Jr. II
A rematch between Joshua and Ruiz Jr. happened on 7 December 2019, in Saudi Arabia. Joshua had trained hard and came in lighter for this fight. He boxed a smart, disciplined fight, keeping Ruiz at a distance and avoiding big punches. Joshua won by a unanimous decision, reclaiming his unified heavyweight titles. He showed great humility and determination after winning back his belts.
Joshua vs. Pulev
Joshua was supposed to fight Kubrat Pulev in 2017, but it was postponed. They finally fought on 12 December 2020, in London. Joshua put on a strong performance, knocking Pulev down twice in the third round. He won by knockout in the ninth round, keeping his unified heavyweight titles.
Joshua vs. Usyk
After beating Pulev, there was a lot of talk about Joshua fighting Tyson Fury to become the undisputed champion. However, a legal ruling meant Fury had to fight Deontay Wilder instead. So, Joshua was ordered to fight Oleksandr Usyk, the mandatory challenger.
The fight took place on 25 September 2021, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, put on an amazing performance. He outboxed Joshua for 12 rounds, winning by unanimous decision and taking all of Joshua's titles. This was Joshua's second professional loss.
Post-Title Career
Joshua vs. Usyk II
A rematch between Joshua and Usyk happened on 20 August 2022, in Saudi Arabia. Joshua showed improvement in this fight, especially by attacking Usyk's body more. However, Usyk still managed to win by a split decision, successfully defending his titles. After the fight, Joshua showed a lot of emotion, praising Usyk and talking about his journey in boxing.
Joshua vs. Franklin
On 1 April 2023, Joshua returned to the ring against Jermaine Franklin. He won the fight by unanimous decision. It was a cautious performance, but Joshua used his jab well and landed good power punches. After the fight, he expressed his desire to fight Tyson Fury.
Joshua vs. Helenius
Joshua was scheduled for a rematch with Dillian Whyte in August 2023, but Whyte failed a drug test. Robert Helenius stepped in as a replacement. Joshua won the fight by knockout in the seventh round with a powerful right hook.
Joshua vs. Wallin
In December 2023, Joshua fought Otto Wallin. Joshua dominated the fight, and Wallin's corner decided to stop the fight after the fifth round, giving Joshua a win by corner retirement.
Joshua vs. Ngannou
Joshua faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou in March 2024. Joshua showed his power, knocking Ngannou down in the first round and winning by knockout in the second round.
Joshua vs. Dubois
On 21 September 2024, Joshua challenged Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium. Dubois had recently been made the full IBF champion. Dubois won the fight by knockout in the fifth round, after knocking Joshua down multiple times. This result was considered a big upset.
Personal Life
Anthony Joshua is interested in chess and reading, which he believes helps him with his boxing strategies. Before becoming a full-time boxer, he worked as a bricklayer.
He has a son named Joseph "JJ" Joshua, born in 2015. Joshua has a good relationship with his long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, who has worked with him since he turned professional. In 2023, Joshua also joined an investment group for the Alpine Formula One racing team.
Professional Boxing Record
| 32 fights | 28 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 25 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Loss | 28–4 | Daniel Dubois | KO | 5 (12), 0:59 | 21 Sep 2024 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | For IBF heavyweight title |
| 31 | Win | 28–3 | Francis Ngannou | KO | 2 (10), 2:38 | 8 Mar 2024 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| 30 | Win | 27–3 | Otto Wallin | RTD | 5 (12), 3:00 | 23 Dec 2023 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| 29 | Win | 26–3 | Robert Helenius | KO | 7 (12), 1:27 | 12 Aug 2023 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Jermaine Franklin | UD | 12 | 1 Apr 2023 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 27 | Loss | 24–3 | Oleksandr Usyk | SD | 12 | 20 Aug 2022 | King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | For WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and vacant The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 26 | Loss | 24–2 | Oleksandr Usyk | UD | 12 | 25 Sep 2021 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England | Lost WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Kubrat Pulev | KO | 9 (12), 2:58 | 12 Dec 2020 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Retained WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Andy Ruiz Jr. | UD | 12 | 7 Dec 2019 | Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia | Won WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 23 | Loss | 22–1 | Andy Ruiz Jr. | TKO | 7 (12), 1:33 | 1 Jun 2019 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | Lost WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Alexander Povetkin | TKO | 7 (12), 1:59 | 22 Sep 2018 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | Retained WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Joseph Parker | UD | 12 | 31 Mar 2018 | Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Retained WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles; Won WBO heavyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Carlos Takam | TKO | 10 (12), 1:34 | 28 Oct 2017 | Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Retained WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Wladimir Klitschko | TKO | 11 (12), 2:25 | 29 Apr 2017 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | Retained IBF heavyweight title; Won vacant WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Éric Molina | TKO | 3 (12), 2:02 | 10 Dec 2016 | Manchester Arena, Manchester, England | Retained IBF heavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Dominic Breazeale | TKO | 7 (12), 1:01 | 25 Jun 2016 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Retained IBF heavyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Charles Martin | KO | 2 (12), 1:32 | 9 Apr 2016 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Won IBF heavyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Dillian Whyte | KO | 7 (12), 1:27 | 12 Dec 2015 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Retained WBC International and Commonwealth heavyweight titles; Won vacant British heavyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Gary Cornish | TKO | 1 (12), 1:37 | 12 Sep 2015 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Retained WBC International heavyweight title; Won vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Kevin Johnson | TKO | 2 (10), 1:22 | 30 May 2015 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Retained WBC International heavyweight title |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Raphael Zumbano Love | TKO | 2 (8), 1:21 | 9 May 2015 | Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, England | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Jason Gavern | KO | 3 (8), 1:21 | 4 Apr 2015 | Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Michael Sprott | TKO | 1 (10), 1:26 | 22 Nov 2014 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Denis Bakhtov | TKO | 2 (10), 1:00 | 11 Oct 2014 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Won vacant WBC International heavyweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Konstantin Airich | TKO | 3 (8), 1:16 | 13 Sep 2014 | Phones 4u Arena, Manchester, England | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Matt Skelton | TKO | 2 (6), 2:33 | 12 Jul 2014 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Matt Legg | KO | 1 (6), 1:23 | 31 May 2014 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Hector Alfredo Avila | KO | 1 (6), 2:14 | 1 Mar 2014 | Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, Scotland | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Dorian Darch | TKO | 2 (6), 0:51 | 1 Feb 2014 | Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Hrvoje Kisiček | TKO | 2 (6), 1:38 | 14 Nov 2013 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Paul Butlin | TKO | 2 (6), 0:50 | 26 Oct 2013 | Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Emanuele Leo | TKO | 1 (6), 2:47 | 5 Oct 2013 | The O2 Arena, London, England |
Images for kids
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Joshua faces Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller at their Madison Square Garden press conference in 2019
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Joshua speaks at the press conference announcing his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
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Joshua in Dubai, 2017
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Joshua (in white trunks) vs. Takam at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, 2017
See also
In Spanish: Anthony Joshua para niños
- List of world heavyweight boxing champions
- List of WBA world champions
- List of IBF world champions
- List of WBO world champions
- List of IBO world champions
- List of British heavyweight boxing champions
- List of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions
- List of Olympic medalists in boxing
- Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics
