World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is widely regarded as the face of boxing and is now one of the most recognizable sportspeople on the planet.
But despite winning Olympic gold in 2012 and holding the IBF and WBA (super) titles, it is with a shrug of the shoulders that Joshua says: “I don’t think I’m the most gifted – but when you see me fight I think you see my heart. I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
‘AJ’ grew up in Watford but spent much of his time in the company of his cousin, Ben Ileyemi, who lived in north London.
It was there that he landed at the world-famous Finchley ABC, but Joshua insists boxing was a hobby, a way to try and keep fit, admitting he “didn’t think it would become a career path”.
But his 11th-round stoppage of Ukrainian giant Wladimir Klitschko in April underlined his status as boxing’s biggest superstar, cementing his place as a genuine British sporting role model.
“A role model is interesting because no man is perfect,” AJ says.
“I’d like to connect with people, who can connect to my positives and my negatives and take inspiration from both sides.”
