Anthony Joshua has the pedigree, power and charisma to hold a legitimate claim as the long-awaited saviour of heavyweight boxing.
Since winning an Olympic gold medal as a hometown hero in London 2012, Watford-born AJ has punched his way to 13 straight knockout victories in the pro ranks, leading to inevitable comparisons with Mike Tyson, who boasted an identical record at the same stage of his era-defining career.
In stark contrast to the monotonous atmosphere surrounding heavyweight boxing at the hands of the Klitschko brothers, Joshua boasts an insatiable energy that's already manifesting into crossover appeal.
At the Lynx Black Space in Shoreditch, we spoke to Anthony Joshua about male grooming, fighting with David Haye and his relationship with grime.
Interview: Corey Pellatt
What was the first fight you remember watching when you were growing up?
I remember the first fight that stuck with me. I remember going to my friends house after I’d just started training and we were just kicking back, talking boxing and I remember him showing me a fight with Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns. These guys were multiple world champions at the peak of their careers. You’ve got one guy, six foot something, and you’ve got another guy, short and stocky. They just went toe to toe. Hearns got knocked out in the third round and my mate goes: “Josh this is what you’re going to get involved in, are you sure you’re ready for it?”
That kind of stuck with me, he said it wasn’t going to be an easy journey but I knew this is what I wanted to be doing.
It only takes one glance through your Instagram to see how much you admire boxing's all-time greats and you make a lot of posts related to Muhammad Ali in particular. Do you put him on a higher pedestal than anyone else?
Ali obviously achieved what the likes of Tyson did and so on but he become a champion at the time of civil rights struggles, where it was hard for a black athlete to become a champion. Boxing was driven by politics, the mafia were involved in boxing, and it wasn’t about just your talent, it was about who you knew and what you knew. Ali kind of broke the mould, spoke out, but was very brash and with Instagram it’s about expressing yourself and Ali comes up with some incredible quotes.
Do you think you've got a responsibility to spread positive messages like Ali?
I think it’d be great if there was a social media where anything negative gets drawn out. I don’t know why there’s so much negativity on social media, the world would be a better place, for me, if people just supported one another regardless. I don’t even think that the world’s about colour and race no more – it’s hard to find someone who is fully English, fully African – there’s so much mix in the world now. It’s not really about race, it’s about humanity. People just need to take it back to the hippy years and just chill out a bit.
Someone in boxing who did get a lot of stick was Audley Harrison, who was the last British heavyweight to win gold at the Olympics before you. Looking back at how his career went, did that change the way you approached the pro ranks after London 2012?
Yeah because you’ve always got to look at people that have done it before you. Really, there's two sides of the story with Audley, because he set the paving stones for us to come through. He was two-time ABA champion, Commonwealth gold medallist and Olympic gold medallist. He was very business minded and he said “I’ve done all this for the country” – with no funding at the time – so he went to the people that controlled the money and said we [amateur boxing] need funding otherwise we’re going to go on strike, which takes a lot of guts to do.
A lot of people criticised him but there wouldn’t be the likes Amir Khan, David Haye, Carl Froch or Luke Campbell if it wasn’t for Audley Harrison. After what happened with Audley, I did learn there’s a difference between three rounds and 12 rounds, so once I left the amateurs everything I’ve done there is irrelevant because I’m in a new sport and a new field now.
You mentioned David Haye just then and he's recently talked up his chances of a fight with you – would you be interested in that?
Yeah man, I’ve been at fights with Haye, tennis matches with Haye. Haye’s an out-there person. He’s been there, he’s been champion, he’s been a great amateur, he’s very confident and I think he’s one of Britain’s best fighters.
But, besides the relationship, I think the fight makes loads of sense, loads of sense. I think, in reality, it’s a fight that I wouldn’t take right now because I’ve only been a professional for two years and an amateur for three before that. With the experience that Haye’s got, he’s levels above me. But in terms of physical confidence and hard work, I think we match each other.
You're in absolutely incredible shape compared to a lot of heavyweight boxers. What's different about your workout routine to other fighters?
I think a lot of it comes from genetics. I got a back injury that made me realise I need to basically just work on my core. I just made sure I strengthened up my mid section, my glutes, my legs and that’s helped me generate a lot more power. My job isn’t really to look good, it’s to make sure my body’s functioning and working.
A lot of people criticised him but there wouldn’t be the likes Amir Khan, David Haye, Carl Froch or Luke Campbell if it wasn’t for Audley Harrison.
We're sat in the Lynx Black Space, which is dedicated to keeping guys looking their best. Have you got any personal grooming tips that you use day in, day out to keep you fresh?
I think it’s important to make sure you’re showering twice a day but it depends on the type of person you are. You have to moisturise your skin, your skin is the biggest cell in your body so make sure you look after that because you’ve only got one! As a guy, just make sure you keep your haircut fresh, your beard shaped up, even if you want to go for the beard gang just make sure you shape it up.
Have you ever been tempted to join the beard gang?
I can’t, I’ve tried! I’ve been shaving but its just not growing, its not growing (laughs).
How would you define your personal style?
Simple. It's always understated whites, blacks and greys. I just like things just to fit me. Because I’m quite big, I have to get things massive and I just get it tailored a little bit so it fits me well, that’s it.
I know you’re the face for a couple of brands at the minute anyway, did you ever see yourself going down that lane when you started training, was modelling anything you were ever looking to do?
Never! Especially as a boxer, because it’s a brutal sport. But I work with brands in more of an ambassador role, which is about how you represent yourself, not acting like a model. I think my role is more of what I can bring to the brand as a person. I think just through watching the likes of Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali – when you read about the champions they were all quite intelligent and they had something they stood for, I think that’s what brands like.
As one of the most in demand British athletes of the moment, your Instagram is full of pictures with cultural icons. I've read that the one person you said you’d like to go for a beer with though is Barack Obama, does that still stand?
Yes – one hundred per cent! His journey’s crazy. They say that the presidents all have a connection through families but that’s not the case with him. I’d just want to him ask him some questions that not many people get a chance to ask him.
Have you ever been starstruck by anyone?
Jay Z.
How did you meet him?
I got invited to a Will Smith premiere and when I met him, he was just cool, he was one of the boys. It wasn’t really an ‘Oh my god, it’s Will Smith thing’. He did some training with us before London 2012 and I’ve always seen him as more of a comedian from Fresh Prince of Bel Air – so I don’t know Will Smith to be a serious character or nothing.
But Jay Z came up some stairs that night and the stairs split into two ways – he could go left or right, and maybe avoid me. I knew I wanted a picture with him, so I had to stand wherever he chose to go. Jay Z came up the stairs, with a couple of security guys behind him. I listened to him growing up, so I thought I could relate to him. I asked him for a picture, but he kind of tried to walk off (laughs)! So I grabbed his arm – said “Jay” – and he looked up at me and saw a big guy, looked at my hand on his arm, and just froze (laughs). We got a picture and he just kept walking.
I watched an interview with him and he said if he waited for everyone he’d never get to where he needs to get to so, I understood it. I just think he’s a role model, he’s come up the hard way.
I was going to get Stormzy to try and do a ring walk with me – but I don’t think I’m at that level yet where I can start having people rapping for me
Do you have much interaction with the artists in the UK music scene?
Of course, we’re all from the same place really. We’re all trying to achieve something that was never really put in front of us. We had to make something out of nothing. So if there’s anyway they can reach out and I can support them, I want to.
I was going to get Stormzy to try and do a ring walk with me – but I don’t think I’m at that level yet where I can start having people rapping for me when I walk, that’s too hype. I said let's just be patient and get to a level where we can start doing stuff like that.
Anthony Joshua was talking to Complex UK at Lynx Black Space, the place for unplugged gigs, stripped back sounds, subtle styling and great company in the heart of Shoreditch.
