While all attention goes to the United Kingdom, the country Anthony Joshua represented on the night of his fight with Ukranian boxer Vladimir Klitschko his request to have the Green white Green Nigerian flag on display alongside the Union Jack flag of the United Kingdom didn’t go unnoticed during his walk-in.
Having previously won 18 bouts all on knockouts, it is of record that he has never walked into the ring with any other country’s flag besides that of the United Kingdom. He specifically requested that his team bring in the Nigerian flag and display it alongside that of England.
He went on to win his 19th fight against Klitschko with a technical knoockout in the 11th round to claim the WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles whiles retaining his IBF heavyweight title thereby maintaining a 100% win record all on knockouts.
Joshua was born in Watford to a Nigerian mother and a British father of Nigerian and Irish descent. Joshua grew up for some of his early years in Nigeria and returned to the UK halfway through Year Seven to join Kings Langley Secondary School. Joshua was called ‘Femi’ by his friends and former teachers, due to his middle name ‘Oluwafemi’.