Anthony Joshua’s Quest: Rising to Heavyweight Boxing Greatness?

Athletics, Boxing, Sports

Journey of Anthony Joshua, a titan in the world of boxing. From humble beginnings to global acclaim, discover the story behind this heavyweight champion’s rise to prominence and his enduring impact on the sport.

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World on Notice

On March 8th, Anthony Joshua made a powerful statement by delivering a devastating knockout to Francis Ngannou in the second round of their fight in Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou Would Beat Joshua

Several combat experts were confident that Ngannou would emerge victorious against Joshua, drawing from the UFC champion‘s impressive performance against Tyson Fury in October. Despite knocking Fury down, Ngannou ultimately lost the match on decision.

“False Confidence”

As per Sky Sports, Dillian Whyte expressed his opinion on the matter, stating that the fight with Fury seemed to have given him a misguided sense of assurance. Despite being hit with powerful punches, he chose to remain in close proximity without making any defensive moves.

“An Experienced Gold Medallist”

“Someone like AJ, a seasoned gold medallist with a wealth of experience in world title fights, consistently focuses on mastering the fundamentals every day. It was in this aspect that Francis encountered difficulties.”

A Reminder

Anthony Joshua’s victory over Ngannou has served as a powerful reminder of his impressive resume and exceptional talent in heavyweight boxing. It has solidified his status as a potential all-time great in the sport.

Two-time World Champion

According to ESPN, Anthony Joshua has an impressive record as a former two-time unified WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight champion. He held the belts from March 2018 to July 2019 and then again from December 2019 to September 2021.

Crucial Years

In 2024 and 2025, he has the opportunity to solidify his status among the all-time greats of heavyweight boxing, having already secured the heavyweight belts twice before.

Four-time Champions

According to a report by the Daily Mail, a select few heavyweight boxers have achieved the remarkable feat of becoming four-time champions. Among these boxing legends are Muhammed Ali, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, and Evander Holyfield. It is worth noting that Anthony Joshua has the potential to join this esteemed group.

Battle for IBF

The IBF plans to lend its title to Joshua and Filip Hrgovic for their rematch against Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, providing Joshua with the opportunity to become a three-time world champion.

Greatness

Should Joshua defeat Hrgovic to win the IBF title and go on to face Tyson Fury in the ‘Battle of Britain’ undisputed heavyweight title bout, he would become the third undisputed heavyweight champion of the twenty-first century and a four-time world champion.

Big ifs

Undoubtedly, these are significant uncertainties for Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua. However, despite experiencing humbling losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz previously, Joshua has managed to defy expectations and emerge as an improved and formidable fighter.

Beating the Best

Hrgovic and Fury will definitely pose a formidable challenge for Joshua, but it’s worth noting that the Englishman has a proven history of overcoming top contenders in his weight class.

Ridiculous Record

As reported by ESPN, Joshua has emerged victorious against formidable opponents such as Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, and Kubrat Pulev, successfully defending or claiming his championship belts. Based on the data from BoxRec, the combined record of those four individuals is 166 wins and 14 losses.

“In a Different League”

According to The Mirror, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, stated that AJ’s approach differs from Tyson Fury’s. Hearn emphasized that AJ’s accomplishments surpass those of Fury. Tyson Fury has only faced Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder, and no one else.