A decorated boxer, Anthony Joshua’s career has been loaded with success. From winning gold in the Olympics to unifying the heavyweight division, AJ’s name holds value wherever he goes.
Hailing from Watford, England, Joshua is the flagship for Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. Teaming up with the streaming giant as a fighter and ambassador, ”AJ’s” presence has resulted in record-breaking crowds and classic clashes for gold and bragging rights.
Though he is 2-3 in his last five fights, Joshua can still return to the top of the heavyweight division provided he can get back in the win column. With new trainer Derrick James taking over for Robert McCracken and Robert Garcia, the pressure is on.
Can the 33-year-old ex-champ keep a cool head?
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Joshua’s next fight is against American Jermaine Franklin on April 1. Franklin, 29, is a rising star that wants to disrupt the balance of power in the heavyweight division. Having faced everyone, from rookies to veterans, Joshua is determined to regain his post
The Sporting News looks into the career of Joshua, from where he started to how he got to where he is today.
What titles has Anthony Joshua won?
Joshua won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles early in his career.
He is a two-time unified heavyweight champion, having held the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles twice
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What is Anthony Joshua’s boxing record?
Anthony Joshua has a career record of 24-3 (22 KOs), with a career dating back to his pro debut in 2013.
Following a 40-3 amateur record and winning gold in the 2012 Olympics, Joshua was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) status. He beat Emanuele Leo via TKO in his debut. From 2014-2015, Joshua won local gold, including the Commonwealth and British heavyweight titles against Gary Cornish and Dillian Whyte.
From 2016 to 2018, Joshua beat the likes of Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale, Eric Molina, Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin. He beat Martin for the IBF heavyweight title, Klitschko for the WBA version, and Parker for the WBO belt.
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Things took a nasty turn for Joshua in 2019 when underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. dethroned him in one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history. Ruiz replaced Jarrell Miller, who was suspended following multiple failed drug tests. Joshua rebounded by beating Ruiz in a rematch a few months later in Saudi Arabia to win the belts back and retained them against Kubrat Pulev in December 2020.
However, when a fight against Tyson Fury to determine an undisputed champion was scrapped, Joshua defended the titles against mandatory challenger and former cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian lefty won the bout via unanimous decision in September 2021 and took the rematch in August 2022 via split decision.