Anthony Joshua, a key figure in elevating British boxing to new heights, remains one of the sport’s biggest superstars. His journey includes winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics before transitioning to the professional ranks. In his fifteenth bout, he captured the British title by defeating Dillian Whyte. Soon after, Joshua continued his winning streak with a knockout victory over Charles Martin to claim the IBF World title.
Despite setbacks like a surprise loss to Andy Ruiz Jr., Joshua rebounded with a victorious rematch and subsequent wins over Kubrat Pulev. However, his aspirations for undisputed status were stalled by consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, who achieved four-belt status in the division.
While Joshua has often expressed admiration for heavyweight legends like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, he reserves special praise for Floyd Mayweather Jr. In an interview with Men’s Health, Joshua described Mayweather as a fighter “everyone in boxing wants to be.” He cited Mayweather’s undefeated record, victories over numerous world champions, unshakable mindset, and the combination of great talent and hard work as qualities that place Mayweather “in a league of his own.”
Floyd Mayweather, now involved in exhibition matches, achieved a flawless record of 50 wins and 0 losses during his professional boxing career. Renowned as one of the biggest box office stars in boxing history, Mayweather’s impact on the sport was profound.
His victories over notable opponents such as Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez solidified his status as a beacon for aspiring young fighters. However, some critics argue that Mayweather’s emphasis on maintaining an undefeated record may have contributed to less ambitious matchmaking in the sport.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua is gearing up for his return to the ring on September 21st. He will challenge IBF Champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, aiming to capture the title and become a three-time heavyweight champion.