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Mummy’s boy: Anthony Joshua still lives with his mother, Yeta Odusanya
Mummy’s boy: Anthony Joshua still lives with his mother, Yeta Odusanya

Anthony Joshua on the brink of greatness

He's only 27, but Anthony Joshua stands on the brink of becoming one of Britain's most successful ever sportsman.

 If he beats legendary Ukraine boxer Vladimir Klitschko at Wembley tomorrow it will be a remarkable achievement.

The world at his feet — feted by sponsors and with a face and manner which appeals to mothers and their daughters — Joshua, Josh to his fans, has it all.

However, despite his fame and earning power he has remained remarkably down to earth.

He still lives in a former local authority flat with his mum Yeta Odusanya.

It offers him a stable base in-between demanding training camps and it's there he relaxes playing computer games on a giant screen equipped with state of the art surround-sound speakers.

During the fight tomorrow, while 90,000 people will roar him on inside Wembley, his mum will be at home with his Olympic gold medal and other trophies.

Also watching will be his on/off girlfriend and mother of his 16-month-old son Joseph, affectionately known as JJ, Nicole Osbourne, a dance teacher.

The pair have known each other for years and while the arrival of a baby was a surprise, the 6ft 5in fighter dotes on his son, kitting him out in designer clothes from Burberry.

Already on his way to being a multi-millionaire — thanks to a string of sponsorship deals with Under Armour sportswear, Stub Hub ticket exchange and Lynx — the fighter keeps his feet resolutely on the ground.

He spends most of his time wearing sportswear but has several made-to-measure suits and has collaborated with French Connection on a clothing line.

He is rarely seen without a pair of Beats headphones and enjoys rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G. and grime artist Stormzy.

He relaxes by visiting his favourite restaurant Andreas in London's Charlotte Street where dishes include stuffed vine leaves, roasted lamb and fried squid.

When at training camp his diet is strictly controlled and his entourage make packed lunches of chicken, beef, pasta and boiled eggs in plastic boxes for him to take to the gym.

He also enjoys fresh mango, bananas, pomegranates and peanut butter.

His enviable physique comes as a result of hours at the gym and prefers to prepare with boxing coach Rob McCracken at a gym in Sheffield away from the distractions of family life.

Former pro boxer McCracken recently revealed Joshua used five boxers in sparring sessions for a different mix of styles.

Preparation is key, says the boxer, who commented: "Every fight is a risk, every fight could be your last fight."

This Saturday will be Klitschko's 29th world title fight compared to Joshua's 19th of any kind.

As his wealth has grown Joshua has had use of a private jet and last took his team on holiday to Brazil for the Olympics where they enjoyed paragliding and beach football - the fighter was a good amateur striker.

He drives a £50,000 Jaguar F Pace but recently gifted Sean Murphy, his first trainer at Finchley Boxing Club a £95,000 BMW as thanks for turning his life around with boxing.

It was back in 2008 when the fighter had brushes with the police and recently as 2011 was arrested for possessing cannabis and intent to supply the drug.

He was suspended from Britain’s boxing squad and was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 100 hours’ unpaid work.

Around that time he was working as a brick layer recalls: "When I was younger I was still smoking and partying, having court cases, and I carried on brick laying and I asked myself what was I going to do with myself.

"I remember getting an opportunity to go fight in Las Vegas I was telling my site manager 'I have an opportunity and I will be back in two weeks' and he said 'no, if you are not here there will be someone else here doing your job and getting paid and so you need to choose.

"I went to Vegas."

Since then he has not looked back and put a lot of his ability to stay on the straight and narrow down to the entourage he calls "my family".

They include promoter Eddie Hearn, manager Freddie Cunningham, his cousin Ben lleyem who introduced him to the gym, his right hand man David KD who looks after him during training camp, event promoter Leon Skinner aka Skinz and publicist Andy Bell.

A recent documentary showed Joshua relaxed in the company of his inner circle as they travelled the world and even rapping with them over croissants on the morning of a fight.

As well as being close pals with fellow top sportsman Watford striker Troy Deeney he recently met Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho and the two got on well.

The fight tomorrow night is worth £30million and some commentators say a win could see Joshua on the way to fortune to rival the likes of Michael Jordan and Flloyd Mayweather Junior.

It's a long way from the humble upbringing in north London.

Credit: Mirror.co.uk

 

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