Anthony Joshua is approaching his mid-thirties but does not appear ready to settle down just yet as his career continues to flourish
Despite being one of the most recognised sports figures in the world, Anthony Joshua seems in no hurry to settle down.
The former heavyweight world champion has been linked with numerous women, including models Cara Delevingne and Bella Hadid. However, Joshua, who still resides with his mother at 34, denies these rumours. In an interview with BBC’s Louis Theroux last year, when asked if he had a girlfriend, Joshua responded: “No, I don’t.”
When pressed on whether he would admit it if he did, the London-born boxer said: “Yeah, definitely. Imagine me going home to my missus now and she said, ‘You denied me! ‘. I don’t want the stress.” And when questioned specifically about Delevingne and Hadid, Joshua clarified: “I haven’t been with any of those girls by the way.”
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Anthony Joshua will take on Daniel Dubois at Wembley on September 21 with the fight being broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view. DAZN is the home of all the major fights from the boxing world and this sold-out event will now be available to watch worldwide on the service.
Joshua was previously in a relationship with school friend Nicole Osbourne during his teenage years, and they share an eight year old son, JJ. When asked how he meets women, the boxer revealed: “I’ve had girlfriends. It could be in the local supermarket, or at the petrol station, could be anywhere.”
Joshua continues to live with his mother and stated that any future wife would be marrying into his family. “I still live with my mum. In our culture, we grew up in our own family home, we support our parents,” he explained. “Why am I going to move out and leave my mum by herself, for some girl? Family is the most important thing. When a girl gets with me, she ain’t just marrying me, she’s marrying my family.”
Joshua will take on champion Daniel Dubois tonight as he attempts to become a three-time heavyweight champion. He would join an illustrious cast of five in doing so; Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Michael Moorer. Joshua is the favourite to dethrone Dubois who has held his title for only 88 days. He became the interim champion when he defeated Filip Hrgovic and was upgraded three weeks later when Oleksandr Usyk gave up his IBF belt to instead pursue his rematch with Tyson Fury.
And Joshua is confident he will get the job done to set up an undisputed clash with Fury or Usyk next year. “It can happen in a variety of ways,” he said. “I’m not depending on punch power; it takes a lot more to be a great fighter. I’ll break him down with my spirit. One thing when first I started boxing is, I wanted to bring the heavyweight division back alive in the U.K. So well done to everyone here as well,” Joshua continued. “What a blessing to be back again… we’re ready to rock and roll.”
