In April 2017, about 90,000 people packed Wembley Stadium to watch Anthony Joshua fight Wladimir Klitschko. Joshua was knocked down, got up and stopped the former champion in the eleventh round. It was one of the great heavyweight fights of the century.
Joshua was born in Watford, England, on 15 October 1989, to Nigerian parents. He spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, attending the Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State, before returning to England. He started boxing relatively late, at 18, after being encouraged by a cousin.
Olympic gold
Joshua rose quickly as an amateur. At the London 2012 Olympics, he won gold in the super heavyweight division, in front of a home crowd, beating the Italian defending champion Roberto Cammarelle on countback in the final. He turned professional the following year.
Champion
Joshua won the IBF heavyweight title in 2016 and added the WBA title with the Klitschko win. He later won the WBO title. He became one of the most marketable athletes in Britain, with fights drawing huge crowds and pay-per-view audiences. The promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom guided most of his professional career. Joshua was appointed OBE in 2018 for services to sport.
Ruiz
In June 2019, in his American debut at Madison Square Garden, Joshua was knocked down four times and lost to Andy Ruiz Jr, a late replacement opponent. It was one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history.
Six months later, in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Joshua outboxed Ruiz over twelve rounds to regain the titles.
Usyk and after
Joshua lost his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and lost the rematch in 2022. He rebuilt with wins over several opponents, including a knockout of the former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in March 2024. In September 2024, Daniel Dubois knocked him out at Wembley.
Nigeria
Joshua has embraced his Nigerian roots, visiting the country, wearing Nigerian attire and speaking about his heritage. He has a tattoo of Africa on his shoulder, with Nigeria marked. Nigerians follow his fights closely.
Beyond boxing
Joshua has spoken openly about a youthful brush with the law, which he says boxing helped him leave behind. He has invested in businesses and mentored young fighters.
He started boxing at 18, later than most champions. Within a decade he had filled Wembley.
