Anthony Joshua said that he had come a long way to become a heavyweight boxing champion. He is one of the greatest heavyweight champions of this generation. He is a technically skilled puncher, with crushing power, but he has his own serious limitations.
“The last 10 years I’d describe as hell and torture, but in a way that you walk through it in grace. The first time you walk over the hot coal it burns your feet, but you get used to it.” Joshua said.
“It’s a painful journey, it takes a lot of sacrifices but there are memorable times and memorable moments that come with it. Experience is the best teacher, so I’ve learnt a lot and it makes me the man I am today.” Joshua added.
Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr on a unanimous points decision in Saudi Arabia. The judges had it 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109.
The Briton admitted this fight was his second favourite in his career. His victory over Klitschko was his No1 due to his respect for his opponent.
“It’s good to beat Ruiz and prove to myself I can do it, but I’ve always known it was in me. I always said that when I win, or they asked me how do I feel when I lost, I said I belong at a top level so it’s normal to me.” Joshua said.
“But the main benefit of it to me is my supporters, because they felt my loss. When I lost it echoed across different countries, like when I went back to Nigeria, they felt it.
“So to win was like a benefit for people around the world. For me, I know I can do it, I believe in myself, but no one knows what I feel inside. Some people were wondering am I going to quit, am I still going to box, there’s all these questions, was I concussed.
“I’m just happy that my supporters are now smiling and they can turn off the trash-talk button, and now they’re walking with their chests out and their heads high.” he added.
