British heavyweight Anthony Joshua believes it would not be a “wise decision” for his son to pursue a career in professional boxing. The two-time former unified world heavyweight champion shared his thoughts on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, expressing a preference for his son, Joseph Joshua, known as JJ, to become an accountant instead. However, Joshua emphasized that he wants JJ to carve out his own future.
Joshua has previously stated that he did not envision a boxing career for his “little JJ,” hoping instead for his son to be the “best man that he can be.” Speaking on Desert Island Discs, Joshua confirmed that his views on his son’s future remain unchanged. He mentioned that he would advise JJ to “do the best you can do” when it comes to choosing a career.
“If I was to choose a career for him, I would ask him to probably look at accountancy because I think it’s good to understand numbers,” Joshua said.
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Reflecting on his own career, Joshua discussed how boxing helped him channel his energy during difficult times in his youth. He recounted getting into trouble with the police for fighting as a teenager and being homeless at 17. Boxing became a turning point for him when he entered the ring at 18.
Joshua’s career gained momentum after he won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, turning professional a year later. His victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 was a defining moment, solidifying his status as a top heavyweight.
Joshua won his first 22 professional bouts, 21 of them by knockout, establishing himself as a renowned knockout artist. However, the low point in his career came in 2022 when he failed to recapture the unified WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles from Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
After the loss, Joshua initially denied that it had a profound effect on him, but at a post-fight press conference, he became emotional, apologizing and holding his head in his hands, admitting the defeat tore him apart. Speaking on Desert Island Discs, he revealed that he secluded himself in a “dark room” for five days to mentally heal.
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