Nigeria-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua, on Saturday knocked out Wladimir Klitschko to become the World Boxing Association, WBA, Heavyweight Champion.
After the match, the Briton with Nigerian parents, declared that if Klitschko wants to take advantage of the rematch clause in the contract, he’s ready to go back into the ring.
Joshua also said he loves to fight and entertain, adding that he will take on any opponent and “knock them out one by one.”
Take a look at Anthony Joshua’s fall and rise before attaining this height as WBA Heavyweight Champion.
1 .As of march 2016, Joshua was ranked the world number 8 heavy weight boxer by the ring magazine.
- In 2011, he was charged with possession and intent to supply a class b drug after he was pulled over by police for over-speeding in Colindale, North London and was found with 8 ounces of herbal cannabis hidden in his sports bag in his Mercedes Benz.
The offence carries a maximum of 14 years sentence. He was suspended From GB boxing squad and was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 100 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty at crown court.
- In 2012 Olympics, Anthony Joshua wanted to represent Nigeria but a coach in Nigeria told him there was no chance. Joshua reportedly asked to join Nigerian trials but was told he was not good enough and he went ahead to represent England .
- Anthony Joshua was born to a Nigerian mother and a Nigerian father of Irish descent. His cousin is a fellow professional boxer, Ben Ileyemi. The pair made their professional debut together in 2013.
- He grew up much of his early years in Nigeria and returned to the United Kingdom when he was 7 years old to join Kings Langley Secondary School. He became a boxer in 2007 at the age of 18.
- In 2011, he made it to the world amateur boxing championship in Azerbaijan where he won silver medal.
He went ahead to win an Olympic gold medal for Great Britain at the London Olympics in 2012.
- Joshua has won all the 15 bouts of his professional career.
- Before becoming a boxer, Joshua worked as a bricklayer.
- His mother, Yeti Odusanya has watched him fight since 2011.