Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, born on October 15, 1989, is a British professional boxer.
He is a two-time unified world heavyweight champion, having held titles from 2016 to 2021.
Joshua won gold at the 2012 Olympics and has notable victories over champions like Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker.
Recently, he suffered a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but remains focused on continuing his career, targeting a fight with Tyson Fury in 2025.
Parents
Anthony’s parents are Robert Joshua and Yeta Odusanya.
His father has Nigerian and Irish ancestry, while his mother is Nigerian, specifically from the Yoruba ethnic group, where Joshua holds aristocratic status.
After his parents’ divorce when he was 12, Joshua returned to the UK from Nigeria, where he had spent part of his early life.
Early career
Joshua began boxing at the age of 18, a relatively late start for a professional athlete.
His interest in the sport was sparked by his cousin, who encouraged him to take it up.
Joshua quickly made a name for himself in the amateur circuit, winning the Haringey Box Cup in 2009 and claiming the ABA Heavyweight Championship in both 2010 and 2011.
His amateur record was impressive, with 40 wins out of 43 fights, showcasing his potential as a future star in boxing.
Joshua’s career reached a significant milestone when he represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
He won the gold medal in the super heavyweight division, defeating Italy’s Roberto Cammarelle in the final.
This victory catapulted him into the public eye and established him as a rising star in boxing, garnering attention and admiration from fans and analysts alike.
Professional boxing
Transitioning to professional boxing, Joshua made his debut on October 5, 2013, with a first-round TKO victory over Emanuele Leo at The O2 Arena in London.
He quickly built a reputation as a powerful puncher and skilled boxer.
By December 2015, he had captured both the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, further solidifying his status in the sport.
Joshua’s ascent continued when he won the IBF heavyweight title on April 9, 2016, by defeating Charles Martin with a knockout in the second round.
This victory marked him as a world champion.
His most notable achievement came on April 29, 2017, when he faced Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
In an epic battle that thrilled fans worldwide, Joshua won by TKO in the 11th round, unifying the IBF and WBA (Super) titles and establishing himself as one of boxing’s premier heavyweights.
Over the next few years, Joshua successfully defended his titles against several challengers, including Joseph Parker—where he unified the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles—and Alexander Povetkin.
However, his career faced a setback in June 2019 when he suffered his first professional defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr., losing his titles in what was considered a major upset.
He avenged this loss in December 2019 with a unanimous decision victory that allowed him to regain his belts.
In recent years, Joshua faced further challenges when he fought Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight titles in September 2021 but lost by unanimous decision.
A rematch took place in August 2022, where he again lost to Usyk by split decision.
Despite these setbacks, Joshua remains focused on continuing his boxing career.
He recently faced Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but suffered a knockout loss.
