Anthony Joshua Is Not Done Yet

At 22, Anthony Joshua stepped into the ring, swinging his way to victory, and into the hearts of the nation. The occasion was the final against Roberto Cammarelle, where little expectation was on the shoulders of the Watford-born boxer. He was cool and calculated, skilful and elegant. His style of fighting was attractive to all, even those less enthusiastic about the sport. That match would make him a superstar, a household name and a national icon. It helped, too, that he was as good outside the ring as he was on it. He’s cool and charming, relaxed and relatable. His appearances on the Graham Norton Show, for example, were a hit, an example of an athlete at ease with a crowd. And since that fight in 2012, he’s gone on to break more records, cementing his place amongst the best in British boxing. In short, boxing isn’t for everyone – but Anthony Joshua is.

Yes, his recent loss against Usyk was a setback, a shock even. It leaves many doubting whether the now 31-year-old Joshua is still capable of ruling the ring. With Tyson Fury seemingly unstoppable, you may well think the chance to fight – let alone win – against him is gone. Boxing, though, is a funny ol’ sport, where champions can fall and rise again. Or, as Frank Sinatra put it: “that’s life.”

He’s not done yet. Far from it. He’ll be back soon – and if you doubt it, it might be best to remind yourself of his history-making moments:

“You know I come to knock people out”: AJ v Martin, 02 Arena

Big arenas don’t phase the best fighters – nor does tough talk before fights. True to form, Joshua proved himself great in 2016, knocking out Martin in the second round, just as he said he would. It was in many ways the perfect match. He was on home soil, with the support of the nation and the crowd behind.

It made him the first British boxer to transition from Olympic glory to a professional heavyweight title.

A glorious return: AJ defeats Ruiz

The image of AJ on the floor, with Ruiz standing tall and victorious over him, would’ve agonised the man. In New York, 2019, he was outboxed, with the lesser-known Ruiz claiming victory by knockout. An upset for the ages, it was claimed – and a huge embarrassment for the Watford-born boxer.

With the rematch set later that same year, though, AJ got to work, sticking to his rigorous training routine. It paid off: AJ won via a unanimous decision, reclaiming his title and his reputation as one of boxing’s best.

Man of Steel: AJ v Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko is no ordinary fighter. He has a reputation: tall, strong, and steely-eyed. He’s experienced, with more belts and titles than one can count. He was also 39 at the time of the fight, with all the years of experience behind him. He was no ordinary opponent. For AJ, this was arguably his biggest test. The fight itself broke records, with everyone seemingly itching to get a glimpse of the action. They’d fight for 11 rounds, giving fans more than their money’s worth of the action. AJ won by a technical knockout. The student had outlasted the master. So much was the respect between the pair that a joint photo was taken after; and trust us, respect isn’t always promised at the end of a highly anticipated fight.

At 31, he has enough experience to weather the bad storm. He’s delivered some of British boxing’s greatest moments, earning the respect of boxing fans and attracting others to the sport. In Britain, the popularity of boxing is at an all-time high – that has a lot to do with Anthony Joshua. And soon, he’ll be back, proving he’s not done just yet.

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