Sportsmen just do what they do. I’m not trying to be a role model. If there’s any inspiration people can take from me, take as much as you can – from my good and my bad.
ANTHONY JOSHUASportsmen just do what they do. I’m not trying to be a role model. If there’s any inspiration people can take from me, take as much as you can – from my good and my bad.
ANTHONY JOSHUAI was raised well. My parents are from Nigeria; their culture is respectful. Very respectful. But I learnt that you have to be determined. It’s not violence or aggression. It’s sheer determination.
ANTHONY JOSHUABoxing is the embodiment of who I am, but beyond that, this is a journey of the self, and my obsession to get the most from this short life.
ANTHONY JOSHUAI realised that I could either fight and get into trouble on the street or I could fight and get paid in the ring. I chose the ring.
ANTHONY JOSHUAI didn’t make the most of school, but boxing has given me discipline.
ANTHONY JOSHUAI think towards the end of my career, I’m the man. But right now, I’ve still got that underdog mentality to keep on proving myself time and again. I’m not going to believe the hype.
ANTHONY JOSHUABoxing’s a sport that gives you licence to act like an idiot, I think.
ANTHONY JOSHUAThe way I meditate is by being organised. I can get real Zen if I go home and tidy the front room.
ANTHONY JOSHUAPrayer is a form of meditation, isn’t it? It’s laws of attraction: whatever you put out into the universe is what it receives. It’s just kind of putting your thoughts out into the universe.
ANTHONY JOSHUAI am nice, yeah. I’m cool. But I’m no push-over. And if someone gets one over on me, they’ve done it when my eyes were closed, and it doesn’t happen twice.
ANTHONY JOSHUAFrom the neck up is where you win or lose the battle. It’s the art of war. You have to lock yourself in and strategise your mindset. That’s why boxers go to training camps: to shut down the noise and really zone in.
ANTHONY JOSHUAThere are two types of warriors: the one that rides through on his horse and tries to slay everyone, and the sniper. I try to be more like the sniper. Bang. Bang. Bang. Break them down, shot by shot.
ANTHONY JOSHUAThe belt doesn’t represent me; it’s how you deal with people, how you represent yourself as a champion. The belt is a sign of a champion, but what makes a champion is the things I have just said.
ANTHONY JOSHUAI can be the nice family man at home, and then when I go to the gym, maybe sparring with someone, I switch into beast mode. It ain’t pretty.
ANTHONY JOSHUAYou’re confident, you’re going to the ring to fight, but there’s always that little thing where you’re thinking, ‘God.’ You’re nervous. But you have to embrace it and enjoy it.
ANTHONY JOSHUAJust set yourself a goal and try and stick to it. Because you’ll always end up better than where you started.
ANTHONY JOSHUA