History of Anthony Joshua in Timeline
Anthony Joshua is a British professional boxer who has twice held the unified world heavyweight championship between 2016 and 2021. He also held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the world of boxing.
1978: Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks Rematch
In 1978, the Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks rematch gathered 63,000 fans at the New Orleans Superdome. Before the fight between Joshua and Pulev in Cardiff, this was the largest boxing attendance to be expected indoors.
1987: Tony Tucker's reign
Tony Tucker's reign as IBF heavyweight champion was shorter than Charles Martin's 85 days in 1987.
October 1989: Anthony Joshua's birth
In October 1989, Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born, who later became a British professional boxer.
2007: Joshua started boxing
In 2007, Anthony Joshua began boxing at the age of 18, after his cousin suggested it.
2008: Zhang Zhilei won silver medal at the Beijing Olympics
In 2008, Zhang Zhilei won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.
2009: Klitschko's Weigh-In
At the weigh-in for his fight against Joshua, Klitschko weighed in at 240 and a quarter pounds, the lightest he had weighed since 2009. Joshua weighed in heavier at 250 pounds.
2009: Remand in Reading Prison
In 2009, Anthony Joshua was put on remand in Reading Prison for fighting and other incidents. After his release, he was required to wear an electronic tag on his ankle.
2009: Joshua won Haringey Box Cup
In 2009, Anthony Joshua won the Haringey Box Cup.
2009: Whyte defeated Joshua
In 2009, Dillian Whyte defeated Anthony Joshua within the amateur rankings.
2010: Joshua won Haringey Box Cup and Senior ABA Championships
In 2010, Anthony Joshua won the Haringey Box Cup and the senior ABA Championships in only his 18th bout, also earning a place on the GB Boxing team and becoming British amateur champion at the GB Championships after defeating Amin Isa.
March 2011: Arrest for Possession of Cannabis
In March 2011, Anthony Joshua was pulled over for speeding in Colindale, North London, and found with eight ounces (226.8 grams) of herbal cannabis in his Mercedes-Benz. He was charged with possession with intent to supply a class B drug, suspended from the GB Boxing squad, and sentenced to a 12-month community order and 100 hours' unpaid work after pleading guilty.
October 2011: Joshua named 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: Joshua won silver medal in Baku
During the 2011 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Anthony Joshua beat Italian reigning world and Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle and Erik Pfeifer of Germany and lost to Magomedrasul Majidov winning a silver medal.
2012: Joshua secured place at the 2012 Olympic Games
In 2011, Anthony Joshua secured his place at the 2012 Olympic Games in the super-heavyweight division.
2012: Joshua won gold at the Olympics
In 2012, Anthony Joshua represented Great Britain at the Olympics and won a gold medal.
2012: Statement on Supporting a Football Team
In 2012, Anthony Joshua stated that he did not support any football team.
July 2013: Joshua Turned Professional
On July 11, 2013, it was confirmed that Anthony Joshua had turned professional under the Matchroom Sport promotional banner.
October 2013: Professional Debut
On October 5, 2013, Anthony Joshua made his professional debut at the O2 Arena in London, beating Emanuele Leo by TKO in the first round.
November 2013: Joshua TKO Victory
On November 14, 2013, Anthony Joshua achieved his third consecutive knockout victory, defeating Hrvoje Kišiček in the second round of the Prizefighter Series.
2013: Joshua Appointed MBE
In 2013, Anthony Joshua was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to boxing.
2013: Professional Debut
In 2013, Anthony Joshua's cousin, Ben Ileyemi, also a professional boxer, debuted alongside him.
2013: Professional Debut Promotion with Eddie Hearn
In 2013, Eddie Hearn promoted Anthony Joshua since his professional debut.
February 2014: Joshua Scored TKO Victory
In February 2014, Anthony Joshua scored a second-round TKO victory over Dorian Darch, extending his record to 4-0.
July 2014: Names Top 5 Heavyweight Boxers of All-Time
In July 2014, during an interview with iFL TV, Anthony Joshua listed Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield as his top five greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time.
July 2014: Joshua defeated Matt Skelton
On July 12, 2014, Anthony Joshua defeated Matt Skelton via second-round stoppage at the Echo Arena, Liverpool.
September 2014: Joshua to fight in Manchester
In September 2014, it was the first time since then that Joshua would be fighting in the city of Manchester. The fight was for Joshua's second defence of his IBF title.
September 2014: Joshua defeated Konstantin Airich
On September 13, 2014, Anthony Joshua defeated Konstantin Airich via third-round stoppage at the Manchester Arena, extending his undefeated record to 8-0.
October 2014: Joshua won WBC International heavyweight title
On October 11, 2014, Anthony Joshua won the vacant WBC International heavyweight title against Dennis Bakhtov at The O2 Arena in London, achieving a KO in the second round.
November 2014: Joshua defeated Michael Sprott
On November 22, 2014, Anthony Joshua defeated Michael Sprott in the first round, extending his record to ten wins, all by stoppage.
2014: Joshua's lightest weight since 2014
For his fight against Parker, Joshua weighed 242.2 pounds, his lightest since 2014 when he fought Michael Sprott.
2014: Joshua named prospect of the year
In 2014, a year after turning professional, Anthony Joshua was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine.
January 2015: Joshua's fight against Kevin Johnson was cancelled
In January 2015, Anthony Joshua's bout against Kevin Johnson at The O2 Arena in London was cancelled due to a back injury Joshua sustained.
April 2015: Joshua beat Jason Gavern
On April 4, 2015, Anthony Joshua beat Jason Gavern with a third-round KO in his return to the ring in Newcastle.
May 2015: Joshua defeated Raphael Zumbano Love and Kevin Johnson
In May 2015, Anthony Joshua defeated Raphael Zumbano Love on May 9 and Kevin Johnson on May 30, inflicting the first stoppage in Johnson's career.
July 2015: Joshua to fight Cornish
On July 16, 2015, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would fight Gary Cornish for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title.
December 2015: Previous Bout Mentioned
In December 2015, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte had a bout which was referred to during the announcement of their planned rematch in July 2023.
December 2015: Joshua defeated Whyte
On December 12, 2015, Anthony Joshua defeated Dillian Whyte for the vacant British heavyweight title, also defending his Commonwealth heavyweight title. Joshua earned £3 million for this fight.
2015: Joshua held British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles
From 2015, Anthony Joshua held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
2015: Fathered a 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 had an average of 8.91 million viewers, less than the 9.59 million viewers that watched Joshua vs. Klitschko in 2017.
January 2016: Martin won IBF heavyweight title
In January 2016, Charles Martin won the IBF heavyweight title after defeating Vyacheslav Glazkov.
February 2016: Joshua to face Martin
In February 2016, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would face IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin on April 9, 2016.
April 2016: Joshua won IBF heavyweight title
On April 9, 2016, Anthony Joshua defeated Charles Martin by TKO to win the IBF heavyweight title.
June 2016: Joshua vs. Breazeale at the O2 Arena
On June 25, 2016, Anthony Joshua defended his IBF heavyweight title against Dominic Breazeale at the O2 Arena in London. Joshua won by a seventh-round knockout after a dominant performance. The fight averaged 289,000 viewers on Showtime in the afternoon.
November 2016: WBA sanctions Joshua vs. Klitschko unification bout
On November 2, 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 was that if Joshua retained his belt against Eric Molina, the fight would take place on April 29, 2017, at Wembley Stadium in London.
2016: Parker's lightest weight since 2016
For his fight against Joshua, Parker weighed in at 236.7 pounds, his lightest since he fought Solomon Haumono in 2016.
2016: Joshua held unified world heavyweight championship
In 2016, Anthony Joshua held the unified world heavyweight championship.
January 2017: Tickets sold for Joshua vs. Klitschko fight
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, whom Anthony Joshua defeated in May 2015, made a comeback after announcing his retirement a day after the fight.
April 2017: Joshua vs. Klitschko fight date
In April 2017, it was confirmed that Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko would fight on April 29, 2017, at Wembley Stadium in London, for the vacant WBA (Super) title, provided Joshua retained his belt against Eric Molina.
June 2017: IBF grants Joshua exemption for Klitschko Rematch
On June 7, 2017, the IBF granted Anthony Joshua an exemption to rematch Wladimir Klitschko instead of fighting mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, with the rematch required to occur no later than December 2, 2017.
August 2017: IBF orders Joshua to fight Pulev
In August 2017, following Klitschko's retirement, the IBF immediately ordered Anthony Joshua to fight Kubrat Pulev next, with a deal needing to be reached by September 3, 2017. The WBA then ordered Joshua to make his mandatory defence against Luis Ortiz.
August 2017: Klitschko announces retirement
In August 2017, on August 3rd, Wladimir Klitschko announced his retirement from boxing, ending the possibility of a rematch with Anthony Joshua. Prior to this, on August 2nd Joshua revealed he would need to start a three-month training camp on August 22nd, if he was to fight on November 11th.
September 2017: Deadline for Joshua-Pulev Deal
In September 2017, a deal was needed to be reached by September 3 between Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev for their fight. After Klitschko retired from boxing in August 2017, the IBF ordered Joshua and Pulev to fight next.
October 2017: Molina's ban backdated
In October 2017, UK Anti-Doping backdated Eric Molina's two-year ban from fighting in the UK to October 28, 2017, following a positive test for dexamethasone after his loss to Joshua.
October 2017: Joshua-Pulev fight details discussed
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.
November 2017: Racist comments on Social Media
In November 2017, Anthony Joshua made a series of racist comments and social media posts regarding race. He referred to heavyweight boxer Eddie Chambers as a "disgrace to the superior black race" on Instagram, leading to press controversy.
December 2017: Rematch Deadline
The IBF specified that the Joshua-Klitschko rematch was required to occur no later than December 2, 2017. The winner had to fight Pulev next with no exemptions.
2017: Pulev Injury
In 2017, Anthony Joshua had been initially announced to fight Kubrat Pulev, but a late injury to Pulev saw Carlos Takam replace him for the fight.
2017: Expression of Support for Watford F.C. and Real Madrid C.F.
In 2017, Anthony Joshua said that he supports his local team, Watford F.C., but his "overall favourite" team was Real Madrid C.F. because of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was a Real Madrid player at the time.
2017: Ranked World's Most Marketable Athlete
In 2017, Anthony Joshua was ranked as the world's most marketable athlete, surpassing basketball player Stephen Curry, who held the title the previous year. This recognition, along with his boxing prowess, was attributed to his inspiring "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 Joshua vs. Parker fight. The fight was officially announced on January 14 to take place on March 31 in Cardiff.
March 2018: Parker's team consider Lucas Browne
In March 2018, Joseph Parker's team considered Lucas Browne as a potential match-up if they failed to secure a unification fight with Joshua. A date in March 2018 was being discussed with Joshua's team.
April 2018: Parker's purse split agreed
In April 2018, a split was agreed for the Joshua vs. Parker fight, which would see Parker earn between 30 and 35% of the purse. A rematch clause was put in place for Joshua, should he lose, with Parker getting a 55% split in a potential rematch.
May 2018: Molina receives 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 after his loss to Joshua.
June 2018: Negotiations with Povetkin and Wilder
From April up until the end of June 2018, both camps of Joshua and Wilder were in talks. At the same time, Hearn was also working out a deal for Joshua to fight WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. On 26 June, the WBA gave Joshua's camp 24 hours to finalize a deal with Povetkin.
September 2018: Joshua vs. Povetkin Announced
In September 2018, Anthony Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin was officially announced for September 22nd on Sky Box Office for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles. British pundits and trainers warned Joshua not to underestimate Povetkin.
September 2018: Joshua's Plan to Fight in April 2019 Known Since September
In September 2018, Dillian Whyte claimed Anthony Joshua knew since that he would be fighting in April 2019, yet he did not make any offers to Whyte.
September 2018: Joshua closer to fighting Povetkin
With Joshua closer to fighting Povetkin in September 2018, Hearn stated the Joshua-Wilder fight would still take place in April 2019 at Wembley Stadium.
December 2018: Joshua Appointed OBE
In December 2018, Anthony Joshua was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by then Prince Charles.
December 2018: Dillian Whyte Frontrunner to Challenge Joshua
In December 2018, Dillian Whyte was considered the frontrunner to challenge Anthony Joshua, with Joshua's Wembley date still on hold.
2018: Hearn and Joshua discuss future fights
In 2018, Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua spoke about potential fights, including bouts with Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder, with the goal of Joshua becoming the undisputed champion, and an all-English clash against Tyson Fury.
January 2019: Whyte Turns Down Lowball Offer
In January 2019, Dillian Whyte revealed he rejected a 'severe lowball' offer from Anthony Joshua for a rematch, claiming it was less than he received against Chisora in December 2018. Hearn stated Joshua may fight in the US instead.
April 2019: Joshua-Wilder fight
Hearn stated the Joshua-Wilder fight would still take place in April 2019 at Wembley Stadium.
April 2019: Jarrell Miller Tests Positive for Banned Substance
In April 2019, Jarrell Miller tested positive for the banned substance GW1516 from a VADA-conducted urine test on March 20. Further tests on March 31 revealed positive results for EPO, HGH, and GW1516. Many boxers offered to fight Joshua instead.
April 2019: Wembley Stadium to Host Joshua's Fights
In April 2019, Wembley Stadium in London was scheduled to host one of Anthony Joshua's fights. However, Dillian Whyte and Jarrell Miller were also being considered as potential opponents for Joshua.
June 2019: Ruiz Defeats Joshua by TKO
In June 2019, Andy Ruiz Jr. defeated Anthony Joshua by TKO in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden, claiming Joshua's four heavyweight titles. Joshua dropped Ruiz in the third round, but Ruiz scored his own knockdowns and ultimately won the fight. The fight took place on June 1 and was exclusively broadcast on DAZN in the US.
October 2019: End of Molina's ban
In October 2019, Eric Molina's two-year ban from fighting in the UK, which was issued by UK Anti-Doping, ended on October 28, 2019. The ban was due to a positive test for dexamethasone after his loss to Joshua.
December 2019: Joshua Reclaims Unified Heavyweight Titles
In December 2019, Anthony Joshua defeated Andy Ruiz Jr. by unanimous decision at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia, reclaiming his unified heavyweight titles. Joshua boxed a disciplined fight, keeping Ruiz at a distance and landing meaningful punches. The rematch took place on December 7.
March 2020: Joshua vs. Pulev Announced
In March 2020, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would defend his heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20. However, the fight was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2020: Joshua-Pulev Fight Postponed
In April 2020, the fight between Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev, originally scheduled for June 20, was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: Accusations of Racism at Black Lives Matter Protest
In June 2020, Anthony Joshua was accused of racism by some social media users due to his speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford. He encouraged people to invest in black-owned businesses, which some interpreted as a call to boycott white businesses. Joshua clarified that he was reading a speech on behalf of a friend and denied being racist.
June 2020: Joshua and Fury Agree to Two-Fight Deal
In June 2020, a two-fight deal between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury had been agreed "in principle".
December 2020: Joshua Calls Out Fury After Pulev Win
In December 2020, immediately after defeating Kubrat Pulev, Anthony Joshua expressed his desire to fight Tyson Fury for the undisputed title. The fight with Pulev took place on December 12 in London.
2020: Positive Relationship with Promoter Eddie Hearn
In 2020, Anthony Joshua spoke about his positive relationship with his longtime promoter Eddie Hearn, highlighting their friendship.
May 2021: Fury-Joshua Fight in Jeopardy
In May 2021, Tyson Fury announced that his fight with Anthony Joshua would take place on August 14, 2021, in Saudi Arabia. However, an arbitration ruling stated that Fury had to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time, jeopardizing the Joshua fight. These events unfolded throughout the month.
August 2021: Fury-Joshua Fight Set for August
In August 2021, the Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fight was originally planned to take place on August 14 in Saudi Arabia, however, the fight never happened due to an arbitration judge ruling that Fury was entitled to a third fight with Deontay Wilder.
September 2021: Joshua Rematch Clause Activated
In September 2021, following Oleksandr Usyk's victory over Anthony Joshua, the rematch clause was activated by Joshua's side. Usyk hoped the rematch would be in Ukraine.
2021: Joshua held unified world heavyweight championship until 2021
Anthony Joshua held the unified world heavyweight championship until 2021.
2021: Inclusion in Powerlist of Most Influential Black Britons
In 2021, Anthony Joshua was recognized as one of the 100 most influential Black Britons and included in the annual Powerlist. This highlights his influence beyond the boxing ring.
June 2022: Joshua vs. Usyk Rematch Announced
In June 2022, it was officially announced that Anthony Joshua would face Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on August 20. This was Joshua's attempt to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
August 2022: Controversy Surrounding World-Title Challenge in Saudi Arabia
In August 2022, Anthony Joshua faced questions regarding the controversy of holding his world-title challenge in Saudi Arabia. He was questioned about the human rights situation in the Kingdom, particularly after the sentencing of a woman for her Twitter activity. Joshua responded that people were focusing on the positive aspects and disregarding the negative.
February 2023: Joshua Announces Fight Against Franklin
In February 2023, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would fight Jermaine Franklin on April 1 at The O2 Arena. This marked the first fight of his exclusive five-year deal with DAZN. Joshua also announced his new partnership with trainer Derrick James.
July 2023: Joshua vs. Whyte Rematch Announced
In July 2023, Dillian Whyte vs. Anthony Joshua II, a rematch of their December 2015 bout, was announced to be held at The O2 Arena in London.
August 12, 2023: Joshua Defeats Helenius by KO
On August 12, 2023, Anthony Joshua defeated Robert Helenius by knockout in round 7 after Helenius became a replacement for Whyte.
August 2023: Joshua Fights Robert Helenius After Whyte Cancellation
In August 2023, after Dillian Whyte's positive drug test cancelled their rematch, Robert Helenius was announced as Anthony Joshua's replacement opponent. The bout took place on August 12, 2023, where Joshua won by knockout in round 7.
October 2023: Potential Fight with Wilder
In October 2023, reports stated that Anthony Joshua could potentially face Deontay Wilder on December 23 in Saudi Arabia, on the same card as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
2023: Joined Investment Group of Alpine Racing Team
In 2023, Anthony Joshua joined the investment group of the Alpine racing team of Formula One.
March 2024: Joshua Defeats Ngannou
In March 2024, Anthony Joshua faced Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. He knocked down Ngannou in the first round and won by second-round knockout on March 8.
June 2024: Dubois Elevated to IBF Champion; Joshua to Challenge
On June 26, 2024, Daniel Dubois was elevated to full IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title. On the same day, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would challenge Dubois for the title on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London.
September 2024: Joshua to Challenge Dubois for IBF Title
In September 2024, it was announced that Anthony Joshua would challenge Daniel Dubois for the IBF title. The fight will be on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
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