History of Anthony Joshua in Timeline
Anthony Joshua, a British/Nigerian professional boxer, is a two-time unified heavyweight champion, holding titles from 2017 to 2021. He also held the IBO title during his championship reigns. Before achieving global recognition, Joshua secured the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016, marking his rise in the boxing world.
1978: Previous Boxing Attendance Record
In 1978, Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks rematch gathered 63,000 fans at the New Orleans Superdome, which was the previous record for largest boxing attendance to be expected indoors. Joshua's event would set the new record.
1987: Tony Tucker's Short Reign
In 1987, Tony Tucker had the shortest reign as IBF heavyweight champion.
October 1989: Anthony Joshua Born
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born on 15 October 1989 in Watford, Hertfordshire, to British Nigerian parents Yeta and Robert Joshua.
2007: Begins Boxing
In 2007, at the age of 18, Anthony Joshua began boxing after his cousin suggested he take up the sport.
2008: Zhang Zhilei's Olympic Silver Medal
In 2008, Zhang Zhilei won the silver medal at Beijing Olympics.
2009: Klitschko's Lightest Weight Since 2009
At the weigh-in for the fight, Klitschko, who was 41 at the time, weighed in at 240+1⁄4 pounds (109.0 kg), marking the lightest he had weighed since 2009.
2009: Amateur Fight Against Whyte
In 2009, Anthony Joshua fought Dillian Whyte in the amateur rankings, where Whyte won.
2009: Remand in Reading Prison
In 2009, Anthony Joshua was put on remand in Reading Prison for "fighting and other crazy stuff" and was made to wear an electronic tag upon release.
2009: Haringey Box Cup Win
In 2009, Anthony Joshua won the Haringey Box Cup.
2010: ABA Championships and GB Boxing Team Selection
In 2010, Anthony Joshua won the senior ABA Championships in his 18th bout, turned down £50,000 to turn professional, became British amateur champion at the GB Championships, and earned a place on the GB Boxing team.
March 2011: Arrest for Drug Possession
In March 2011, Anthony Joshua was arrested for speeding and found with cannabis in his Mercedes-Benz in Colindale, North West London. He was charged with possession with intent to supply, suspended from the GB Boxing squad, and sentenced to a 12-month community order and unpaid work after pleading guilty.
October 2011: Amateur Boxer of the Year
In October 2011, Anthony Joshua was named Amateur Boxer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Club of Great Britain.
2011: World Championships Silver Medal and Olympic Qualification
During the 2011 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Anthony Joshua won a silver medal and secured his place at the 2012 Olympic Games in the super-heavyweight division.
2011: World Championships Silver Medal
In 2011, Anthony Joshua represented England at the World Championships, winning the super-heavyweight silver medal.
2012: Qualification to the Olympic Games
In 2012, Anthony Joshua qualified to participate to the Olympic Games in the super-heavyweight division.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, Anthony Joshua represented Great Britain at the Olympics, winning a gold medal.
2012: Joshua does not support a football team
In 2012, Joshua stated that he does not support a football team.
July 2013: Turns Professional
On 11 July 2013, Anthony Joshua turned professional under the Matchroom Sport promotional banner.
October 2013: Professional Debut
On 5 October 2013, Anthony Joshua made his professional debut at the O2 Arena in London, defeating Emanuele Leo by TKO in the first round.
November 2013: Third Professional Fight
On 14 November 2013, Anthony Joshua achieved his third consecutive knockout victory against Hrvoje Kišiček.
2013: Professional Debut with Cousin
In 2013, Anthony Joshua and his cousin, Ben Ileyemi, both made their professional boxing debuts.
2013: Appointed MBE
In 2013, Anthony Joshua was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to boxing.
February 2014: Fourth Professional Victory
In February 2014, Anthony Joshua scored a second-round TKO victory over Dorian Darch, bringing his record to 4-0.
July 2014: Top Five Heavyweight Boxers Named
In July 2014, Anthony Joshua named Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield as his top five greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.
July 2014: Seventh Professional Fight Victory
On 12 July 2014, Anthony Joshua defeated Matt Skelton via second-round stoppage at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, marking his seventh professional victory.
September 2014: Joshua to fight in Manchester for the First Time Since September 2014
In September 2014, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would fight in Manchester for the first time since September 2014, making a second defense of his IBF title at the Manchester Arena on 26 November. Possible names put forward for the fight were top IBF contenders Kubrat Pulev and Joseph Parker.
September 2014: Eighth Professional Fight Victory
On 13 September 2014, Anthony Joshua secured his eighth undefeated win against Konstantin Airich at the Manchester Arena with a third-round stoppage, taking his record to 8-0.
October 2014: WBC International Heavyweight Title Win
On 11 October 2014, Anthony Joshua won the vacant WBC International heavyweight title against Dennis Bakhtov at The O2 Arena in London, taking his record to 9-0.
November 2014: Tenth Professional Win
On 22 November 2014, Anthony Joshua defeated Michael Sprott in the first round to extend his record to ten wins, all by stoppage.
2014: Prospect of the Year
In 2014, Anthony Joshua was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine.
2014: Joshua's Lightest Since 2014
In 2014, Joshua weighed 242.2 pounds (109.9 kg), his lightest since 2014 when he fought Michael Sprott.
January 2015: Bout Cancellation Due to Injury
In January 2015, Anthony Joshua's scheduled fight against Kevin Johnson was cancelled due to a back injury.
April 2015: Return to the Ring
On 4 April 2015, Anthony Joshua returned to the ring after a back injury, defeating Jason Gavern with a third-round KO in Newcastle.
May 2015: Victories Over Love and Johnson
In May 2015, Anthony Joshua defeated Raphael Zumbano Love and Kevin Johnson, marking the first stoppage in Johnson's career.
July 2015: Fight Announcement Against Gary Cornish
On 16 July 2015, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would fight Gary Cornish for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title.
December 2015: Victory over Dillian Whyte and New Deal with Matchroom
In December 2015, Anthony Joshua defeated Dillian Whyte for the vacant British heavyweight title and defended his Commonwealth heavyweight title. He also signed a new five-year deal with Matchroom Sport, earning £3 million for the fight.
2015: British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles
From 2015, Anthony Joshua held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
2015: Birth of son, Joseph "JJ" Joshua
In 2015, Anthony Joshua fathered a son named Joseph "JJ" Joshua with dance teacher Nicole Osbourne.
2015: Klitschko vs. Fury Viewership
In 2015, the Klitschko vs. Fury fight was watched by an average of 8.91 million viewers on German TV channel RTL. This was lower than the 9.59 million viewers who tuned in to watch Joshua vs. Klitschko.
January 2016: Martin Wins IBF Title
In January 2016, Charles Martin won the IBF heavyweight title after defeating Vyacheslav Glazkov.
February 2016: Fight Announcement vs Charles Martin
In February 2016, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would face IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin on April 9, 2016.
April 2016: IBF Heavyweight Title Win
On 9 April 2016, Anthony Joshua defeated Charles Martin by TKO to win the IBF heavyweight title.
June 2016: Joshua vs. Breazeale at the O2 Arena
In June 2016, Anthony Joshua fought Dominic Breazeale at the O2 Arena in London, successfully defending his IBF heavyweight title with a seventh-round knockout. Breazeale became only the second boxer, after Dillian Whyte, to take Joshua past three rounds. The fight averaged 289,000 viewers on Showtime in the afternoon.
November 2016: WBA Sanctions Joshua vs. Klitschko Unification Bout
In November 2016, the WBA agreed to sanction a unification bout between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko for the vacant WBA (Super) title, previously held by Tyson Fury. The agreement stipulated that if Joshua retained his belt against Eric Molina, the fight would take place on April 29, 2017, at Wembley Stadium in London.
2016: End of British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles Reign
By 2016, Anthony Joshua's reign as holder of the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles ended.
2016: Parker's Lightest Since 2016
In 2016, Joseph Parker weighed in at 236.7 pounds (107.4 kg), his lightest since he fought Solomon Haumono in 2016.
January 2017: Tickets Sold for Joshua vs. Klitschko
In January 2017, Eddie Hearn announced that over 80,000 tickets had been sold for the Joshua vs. Klitschko fight, setting a new box office record. Joshua was expected to earn around £15 million for the fight.
March 2017: Kevin Johnson's Comeback
In March 2017, Kevin Johnson made a comeback to boxing after announcing his retirement a day after his fight with Anthony Joshua in May 2015.
April 2017: Joshua vs. Klitschko Fight Date
In April 2017, it was agreed that the fight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko would take place on April 29, 2017, at Wembley Stadium in London. This was contingent on Joshua retaining his belt against Eric Molina in November 2016.
June 2017: IBF Grants Joshua Exemption for Klitschko Rematch
In June 2017, the IBF granted Anthony Joshua an exemption to rematch Wladimir Klitschko instead of fighting mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. Klitschko needed time to consider before agreeing to the rematch.
August 2017: Klitschko Retires, Ending Rematch Possibility
In August 2017, Wladimir Klitschko announced his retirement from boxing, ending the possibility of a rematch with Anthony Joshua, despite the IBF granting an exemption for the fight to occur.
August 2017: Klitschko Retires and IBF Orders Joshua vs. Pulev
In August 2017, Wladimir Klitschko retired from boxing. Following this, on August 4, the IBF immediately ordered Anthony Joshua to fight Kubrat Pulev next, with a deal needing to be reached by September 3, 2017.
September 2017: Deadline for Joshua and Pulev Deal
In September 2017, it was reported that a deal needed to be reached by September 3 between Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev for their upcoming fight, as ordered by the IBF following Klitschko's retirement in August.
October 2017: Molina's Ban Backdated
In October 2017, Eric Molina received a two-year ban from fighting in the UK, which was backdated from October 28, 2017, until October 28, 2019. This ban came as a result of Molina testing positive for dexamethasone after his loss to Joshua.
October 2017: Joshua and Pulev Potential Fight Date and Host
In October 2017, details between the camps of Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev were being discussed and close to being finalised for the date of October 28, 2017, with Las Vegas as the potential host.
December 2017: IBF Sets Deadline for Joshua vs. Pulev
In December 2017, the IBF explained that the Joshua-Klitschko rematch must take place no later than December 2, 2017, and the winner would have to fight Kubrat Pulev next without exemptions.
2017: Support for Watford F.C. and Real Madrid C.F.
In 2017, Anthony Joshua expressed support for his local team Watford F.C., but cited Real Madrid C.F. as his "overall favourite" team because of Cristiano Ronaldo.
2017: Unified Heavyweight Championship
In 2017, Anthony Joshua held the unified heavyweight championship.
2017: Most Marketable Athlete
In 2017, Anthony Joshua was ranked as the world's most marketable athlete, surpassing basketball player Stephen Curry. This was attributed to his boxing ability and "rags to riches" story.
2017: Fight of the Year Award
In 2017, Anthony Joshua's victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.
January 2018: Venue Confirmed for Joshua vs. Parker
On January 8, 2018, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff was confirmed as the venue for the fight between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.
March 2018: March 2018 Date Discussed with Joshua's Team
In March 2018, Joseph Parker's team was looking at Lucas Browne as a potential match-up if they failed to land a unification fight with Joshua. According to Higgins, a date in March 2018 was being discussed with Joshua's team, however Eddie Hearn offered an 80–20 split, which would favor Joshua.
April 2018: Parker to Earn Between 30 and 35% of the Purse
In April 2018, it was announced that a split had been agreed which would see Joseph Parker earn between 30 and 35% of the purse and the fight should take place in April 2018. A rematch clause would be in place for Joshua, should he lose. In a potential rematch, Parker would get a 55% split.
May 2018: Molina Issued a Two-Year Ban
On May 22, 2018, UK Anti-Doping issued Eric Molina with a two-year ban from fighting in the UK, backdated from October 28, 2017, until October 28, 2019. Molina tested positive for dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, after his loss to Joshua.
June 2018: Joshua-Wilder fight negotiations and Povetkin deal
In June 2018, negotiations between Joshua and Wilder's camps were ongoing regarding a super fight, with purse split, date, and venue as the main obstacles. Simultaneously, Eddie Hearn worked on a deal for Joshua to fight WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin after the WBA gave Joshua's camp 24 hours to finalize a deal with Povetkin on June 26th, 2018.
September 2018: Joshua to fight in April 2019
According to Whyte, Joshua knew since September 2018 that he would be fighting in April 2019, yet he did not make any offers.
September 2018: Joshua vs. Povetkin fight announcement
In September 2018, specifically on the 22nd, Wembley Stadium in London was announced as the venue for Joshua's fight against Alexander Povetkin for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, to be broadcasted on Sky Box Office. Concerns were raised by British pundits and trainers regarding the threat posed by Povetkin to Joshua.
December 2018: Appointed OBE
In December 2018, Anthony Joshua was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
December 2018: Whyte frontrunner to challenge Joshua
In December 2018, Dillian Whyte was the frontrunner to challenge Joshua with Joshua's Wembley date on hold. Whyte also heard rumours Joshua would drop the Wembley date.
2018: Joshua Spoke About Potential Fights in 2018
In 2018, after the fight against Takam, Hearn and Joshua spoke about potential fights in 2018, which included fights with Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder, where a win against both would see Joshua the undisputed champion and an all-English clash against Tyson Fury.
January 2019: Whyte turns down offer from Joshua
In January 2019, Dillian Whyte turned down a low offer from Joshua for a rematch, an offer lower than what he received against Chisora in December 2018.
April 2019: Joshua fight at Wembley becoming unlikely
In April 2019, it became highly unlikely that Joshua would still fight at Wembley Stadium on April 13. Whyte also claimed the Joshua fight was dead.
April 2019: Miller tests positive for banned substance
In April 2019, on the 17th, it was confirmed that Jarrell Miller tested positive for the banned substance GW1516 from a VADA-conducted urine test on March 20. Further tests on March 31 proved positive for EPO, HGH, and GW1516 again.
April 2019: Wembley Stadium to host Joshua's fights
Wembley Stadium in London was announced to host Joshua's fights on 22 September 2018 and again on 13 April 2019. In April 2019, Joshua's fights were supposed to take place at Wembley Stadium.
June 2019: Joshua vs. Ruiz fight announced
In June 2019, specifically on June 1st, Joshua fought Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden in New York City, exclusively on DAZN in the US, after Ruiz replaced Miller. Joshua lost to Ruiz by TKO in the seventh round, losing his heavyweight titles.
October 2019: End Date of Molina's Ban
In October 2019, Eric Molina's two-year ban from fighting in the UK ended on October 28, 2019. The ban was issued by UK Anti-Doping and backdated from October 28, 2017, due to Molina testing positive for dexamethasone after his loss to Joshua.
December 2019: Joshua reclaims heavyweight titles in rematch against Ruiz
On December 7, 2019, Joshua and Ruiz had a rematch at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia. Joshua, weighing in lighter, won by unanimous decision, reclaiming his unified heavyweight titles.
2019: Defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr.
In 2019, Joshua suffered a defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr.
March 2020: Joshua vs. Pulev fight announcement
On March 2, 2020, it was announced that Joshua would defend his heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, but the fight was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2020: Joshua-Pulev fight postponed
In April 2020, specifically on April 3rd, the fight between Joshua and Pulev, initially scheduled for June 20, was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: Two-fight deal agreed
In June 2020, a two-fight deal between Joshua and Fury had been agreed 'in principle'.
December 2020: Joshua calls out Fury after defeating Pulev
In December 2020, immediately after defeating Kubrat Pulev on December 12 in London, Joshua expressed his desire to compete with Tyson Fury for the undisputed title.
2020: Positive Relationship with Eddie Hearn
In 2020, Anthony Joshua discussed his positive relationship with his longtime promoter Eddie Hearn, who has promoted him since his professional debut in 2013, emphasizing their “great friendship”.
May 2021: Fury announces fight with Joshua
In May 2021, specifically on May 17, Tyson Fury announced that his fight with Joshua would take place on August 14, 2021, in Saudi Arabia. However, an arbitration ruling jeopardized the fight.
August 2021: Joshua vs. Fury fight date
On May 17th, 2021, it was announced that the fight between Fury and Joshua would take place on August 14th, 2021, in Saudi Arabia.
September 2021: Joshua activates rematch clause against Usyk
In September 2021, specifically on September 29, Joshua activated the rematch clause against Oleksandr Usyk, who had just defeated him to become the unified world heavyweight champion.
2021: End of Unified Heavyweight Championship Reign
By 2021, Anthony Joshua's reign as the unified heavyweight champion had ended.
2021: Inclusion in Powerlist
In 2021, Anthony Joshua was included in the annual Powerlist as one of the 100 most influential Black Britons.
2021: Lightest Weight Since 2021
In November 2025, for his fight with Jake Paul, Joshua weighed in at 243.4 pounds, marking his lightest weight since 2021, where he weighed 240 pounds.
June 2022: Joshua-Usyk rematch announced
In June 2022, specifically on June 19, the rematch between Joshua and Usyk was officially announced to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 20.
August 2022: Questions about Saudi Arabia Controversy
In August 2022, Joshua faced questions regarding the controversy of holding his world-title challenge in Saudi Arabia and about the human rights situation in the Kingdom.
February 2023: Joshua announces fight against Franklin
In February 2023, on the 6th, Joshua announced his return to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on April 1 at The O2 Arena. He also announced his partnership with trainer Derrick James.
July 2023: Joshua vs. Whyte rematch announced
In July 2023, on the 6th, a rematch between Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua was announced to be held at The O2 Arena in London.
August 2023: Helenius replaces Whyte as opponent
In August 2023, specifically on August 5, the rematch with Whyte was canceled after Whyte tested positive for a banned substance. On August 8, Robert Helenius was announced as Whyte's replacement and Joshua won the bout by knockout on August 12, 2023.
October 2023: Potential Fight with Deontay Wilder
In October 2023, there were reports that Anthony Joshua might face Deontay Wilder on December 23 in Saudi Arabia, potentially on the same card as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
2023: Joins Alpine Formula One Team Investment Group
In 2023, Anthony Joshua joined the investment group of the French Alpine racing team of Formula One.
March 2024: Joshua Defeats Ngannou by Knockout
In March 2024, Anthony Joshua fought Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, knocking him down in the first round and winning by a second-round knockout.
March 2024: Knockout of Francis Ngannou
In March 2024, Joshua had achieved a second-round knockout of Francis Ngannou.
June 2024: Joshua to challenge Daniel Dubois
In June 2024, following Daniel Dubois's elevation to full IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would challenge Dubois for the title on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium.
September 2024: Joshua to challenge Daniel Dubois
In June 2024, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would be challenging Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title on 21 September 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London.
July 2025: Possible fight with Jake Paul discussed
In July 2025, Eddie Hearn discussed a potential fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, noting increased interest after Paul's call-out to Joshua, with conversations ongoing with Turki Alalshikh.
November 2025: Paul announces exhibition fight
In November 2025, Paul announced an exhibition fight against Gervonta Davis. However, the card was later cancelled due to a lawsuit against Davis.
November 2025: Fight against Jake Paul Scheduled
In November 2025, it was announced that Anthony Joshua was scheduled to fight Jake Paul on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. It was to be an eight-round match broadcast by Netflix. Joshua accepted to "break the internet" with the event. He weighed in at 243.4 pounds, his lightest since 2021.
December 2025: Return to the ring announced
In August, it was announced that Joshua would return to the ring in December 2025 with Tony Yoka and Jake Paul being considered as potential opponents.
December 2025: Car Crash in Nigeria
On 29 December 2025, Anthony Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The collision resulted in the deaths of his personal trainer Latif "Latz" Ayodele and his strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami. Joshua was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the Duchess International Hospital.
January 2026: Tribute to Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele
On 29 January 2026, Anthony Joshua made his first public video as a tribute to the death of his loved ones Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele.
February 2026: Listed on the Sunday Times Tax List
In February 2026, Anthony Joshua was listed on the Sunday Times Tax list with an estimated £11 million.
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