"I don't know where that... This is quite interesting actually," Anthony Joshua chuckles. It's just been put to the heavyweight that he is a “hero”; that a generation of British fighters are “in awe” of him.
“Who’s in awe of me??” he asks, now leaning back and laughing at the ceiling. “People.”
“People??” Joshua can’t quite seem to comprehend the idea. See, for years the former world champion has spoken of his desire to prove himself as the best heavyweight of his generation, but following a second straight defeat by Oleksandr Usyk, he seems to have altered the agenda.
“Legacy” is still important, he suggests, but for the first time he is speaking plainly about his priority. “Just at this time, money is the first thing that comes to mind,” he admits. “Money is part of a big jigsaw puzzle. The reason I say ‘money’ is just because I know how much it helps people. That’s my love language; I can’t be there for you emotionally, I can’t be there physically, because I’m working – but I can wire you some cash! I’m not gonna be there as a shoulder to cry on, because I don’t really have the energy or time for that; I’m trying to train and become a champion.”
If it seems somewhat callous, there will be critics of Joshua who will want to latch onto those comments. They will argue it is the “real” side of a boxer who has at times been accused of being “fake”. When ringside judges condemned Joshua to a second defeat by Usyk in 11 months, back in August, the Briton seized a microphone where he had been unable to seize back his heavyweight belts. His ensuing, frustrated monologue led to claims that Joshua’s “mask” had slipped.
This story is from the March 29, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 29, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Can Coe win a race against the clock - and irrelevance?
Previous attempts to revive an ailing sport have failed, writes Ben Bloom. But as attention builds ahead of the summer's Olympics, athletics knows it needs to innovate to survive
Crucible faces hard choices as Saudi shadows lengthen
The tournament is not guaranteed to remain at the theatre in Sheffield, writes Luke Baker, as the game ponders its future
Barcelona stand in the way of perfect farewell for Hayes
Chelsea women in mouthwatering Champions League game
The basement battle that exposes a relegation crisis
Everton and Nottingham face each other tomorrow in an unwanted 'points deduction derby', writes Miguel Delaney
Implosion experts Chelsea must find a Wembley way
The blue billion-pound bottle jobs return to the scene of the crime. Or one of the crimes, anyway. For Chelsea, a second visit of the season to Wembley is an unwanted reminder that they can snatch ignominy from the jaws of respectability, that they can seem embarrassing when they could otherwise be impressing. Sadly for them, it may not be necessary.
Taliban approval dependent on women's rights, says US
The Taliban will not be recognised as the legitimate government of Afghanistan until it allows the full participation of girls and women in the wartorn country's society, the US State Department has said.
Why India's Muslims fear Modi winning a third term
As the country enters its election period, Muslims speak to Shweta Sharma about their growing fear of persecution after two terms of BJP government have seen a rise in polarisation
Final jurors selected for Trump hush-money trial
Attorneys for Donald Trump told a judge overseeing the former president’s hush money trial yesterday that Manhattan prosecutors are merely trying to “distract” jurors and “pile things on” by introducing evidence from his string of other criminal and civil cases.
What Israel's strike on Iran tells us about Netanyahu
The conflict between Israel and Iran, fought out often in secret and through proxies, has now erupted with Israel carrying out strikes deep inside Iran, six days after Tehran’s attack that used more than 350 drones and missiles. Explosions were heard near the central city of Isfahan, which has a large airbase, a major missile production complex and number of nuclear facilities.
Fears of escalation as Israel launches airstrikes on Iran
Western leaders urge calm as Tehran says drones intercepted
