Four years ago, Anthony Joshua won Super Heavyweight Gold at the London 2012 Olympics. One Olympic cycle and many fights later, there’s no better time to recognise the unprecedented trajectory of his success.
Having achieved in four years what many of us can only dream of doing in a lifetime, Joshua has become a world heavyweight champion.
Which he is set to defend in November at the Manchester Arena, he’s become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and has won fans in Rory McIlroy, Michael Phelps and Lewis Hamilton – all sporting greats in their own right.
Not only is he undefeated but the manner of his success (he has 17 knock outs in 17 fights) makes him the deserved winner of this award.
His motto “stay hungry” means we can only assume that we’re in for a feast of boxing as the big man from Watford continues his meteoric rise to the top of his sport and into a league of his own.
It is fair to say that 2017 has been a year to remember for Anthony Joshua, and it just keeps getting better for boxing’s heavyweight king.
The 27-year-old Brit unified the division when he felled the mighty Wladimir Klitschko in a mouthwatering Wembley blockbuster back in April.
And following the announcement of his next fight, against mandatory IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev, Joshua claimed the prize of Sportsman of the Year at Tuesday night’s GQ awards.
Tuesday’s awards evening came after Joshua confirmed his October fight with the Bulgarian Pulev.
The Cardiff bout, which may well take place under the closed roof at the Principality Stadium in front of an estimated 80,000 people, is one Joshua is relishing.
‘October 28 can’t come soon enough,’ Joshua said. ‘I have been eager to get back in the ring since Wembley and now we are confirmed and ready.’
COMMENTS