Anthony Joshua’s road to redemption

The fall and rise of Anthony Joshua

“As champion, you carry an air of invincibility. When you crush opponents one after the other the way I did, folks see you as bigger than life. When you lose though, they feel as though they’ve been fooled, suckered into thinking so highly of you. That’s why folks jump off that bandwagon quick as can be, and then throw stones at it. They don’t want to be associated with opinions that now seem so mistaken. Where once they heralded you as king of the mountain, now they want to make you low boy on the totem pole.” - Joe Frazier

Anthony Joshua’s road to unified heavyweight champion looked like an inevitable route towards a First Ballot Hall of Fame induction. He had left behind a trail of destruction on his path towards becoming world champion against Charles Martin in 2016, and had then overcome a determined Wladimir Klitschko, rising from the canvas after receiving a huge Dr Steelhammer right hand to stop the Ukrainian in a historic 90,000 Wembley Stadium spectacle. Joshua was then unifying his titles and defending them further in other showcase events against the likes of Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin.

Many believed we was watching a long-reigning champion, regularly putting on shows which would draw the attention of the mainstream UK public, with all eyes on AJ, and attracted the attention of the wider boxing world, en route to Joshua making history.

Then, June 1st, 2019 at Madison Square Garden changed a lot of things. Andy Ruiz Jr stopped Joshua in one of the biggest heavyweight upsets in recent memory. Joshua regained his titles in the immediate rematch six months later, but public perception surrounding Joshua had changed. He had lost his air of invincibility.

The back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk was the nail in the coffin. Whilst Joshua was on his redemption path following the Ruiz loss and subsequent win, his WBO mandatory conclusively dealt with him twice to raise several questions about Joshua’s confidence, heart and chin. Some people even called for the Brit to retire. He had made millions, and his heart was no longer in boxing, apparently.

Fast forward to 2024. Joshua was set to face former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, in the Cameroonian’s second professional boxing contest. Ngannou’s poised, spirited showing against Tyson Fury in October 2023 had people thinking Joshua might be in unprecedented dangerous territory. Ngannou has lights-out power, and not even Fury, perceived to be a more elusive foe than Joshua, could prevent touching the canvas.

Ngannou was fighting two of the top three heavyweights in the world in his first two boxing outings, and people believed there was a genuine chance he may knock boxing’s credibility down and out for the count, at the expense of Joshua.

Although he had yet to win a single boxing match with a punch, Michael Buffer introduced Ngannou as “the most dangerous puncher in the heavyweight division”. The reality check which was to come by Joshua was needed, for the sake of boxing.

Against Fury, not only did Ngannou surprise everyone with his sound boxing technique, but he displayed real patience to capitalise on a clearly unfocused Fury. Ngannou did not get the win, but he gave one of the best heavyweights of this generation one of his toughest fights, and created a real demand for the Cameroonian to make a return to the boxing ring.

Once Ngannou was in the ring against Joshua, the way he shaped up, hands low and switching to southpaw less than two minutes into the fight, was a sign of complete self-belief and confidence. Up until Joshua instantly capitalised on Ngannou’s switch in stance, Ngannou’s confidence bordered on arrogance.

Ngannou’s problem was, that Joshua, aside from being the genuine, experienced boxer,  appears to be back in devastating form under the tutelage of Ben Davison, perhaps the most devastating and refined form of his entire career. Joshua has regained his confidence, looks destructive, and is punching through the target. He can now set up those power shots, whilst aware of the danger coming back, better than ever.

Following those back-to-back defeats to generational great Usyk, amongst all of the negative chatter about Joshua, there was a lot less consideration about the invaluable lessons that Joshua will have taken away from sharing 24 rounds with a fighter as great as Usyk.

Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius in comeback fights, then rediscovered his explosiveness in dominant fashion against Otto Wallin, forcing a corner’s stoppage after five rounds on the Day of Reckoning card just before Christmas.

Against Ngannou, Joshua took that explosiveness to a whole next level. Ngannou, having never been knocked down in any combat competition seen on tape, was dropped in the first round by a perfectly executed right cross, and dropped twice in the second as he was destructively knocked out.

“You’re looking at the baddest man on the planet right there,” a clearly delighted Eddie Hearn said following Joshua’s continued return to form. “You’re looking at the number one heavyweight in the world. Unquestionably, on this form, there is no man in the world that can beat him in the heavyweight division.”

Since those Usyk losses, Joshua has remained active, with four fights in the last eleven months, undoubtedly a huge factor behind his success as he continues on his quest of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion. Victory against Ngannou is reported to have set up a shot at the undisputed showdown winner between Fury and Usyk, rescheduled to May 18th. The pair are also set for a rematch later this year, which means Joshua may have to wait for his shot at establishing whether he truly is the best heavyweight on the planet under the guidance of Davison.

"For some reason over the last five years there's always been some s--- that gets in the way of [me fighting Joshua]," Fury said on the DAZN broadcast. "And this time the s--- is the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. So that's on the backburner for now. Great performance from AJ. Fantastic.

"But unfortunately, I've got bigger fish to fry in Usyk on May 18. And we have a rematch in October. So, after that, if he's still available and I'm still available, let's get it on.”

Now, Joshua must wait and hope Fury comes out on top in his bouts against Usyk. If he does, a match-up with Fury would be the biggest fight in British boxing history, and one of the biggest in heavyweight history.

Joshua’s journey in boxing has seen the Brit go through it all. The 34-year-old has now seen the good, the bad and the ugly of the sport. Boxing is a dark and often distressing business.  With his shocking stoppage loss to Ruiz and the two conclusive losses to Usyk, Joshua understands this unforgiving truth. Joshua has lost fights, had to deal with everything that comes with losing, and came back. He has consistently been on the receiving end of widespread criticism and judgment, and has continued to improve and evolve into the best version of himself.

The credit for Joshua has to be given in the manner in which he disposed of the ferociously hard-hitting Cameroonian. Although a novice, one punch from Ngannou could have concluded proceedings. Those who expected Joshua to stop Ngannou largely expected it to come in the later rounds, due to Ngannou’s sheer toughness, and expectations of Joshua taking his time against a very dangerous foe. Joshua got through to Ngannou’s impenetrable chin very early, and delivered an instant Knockout of the Year candidate.

Joshua restored order in the boxing world last week. Then, he took it all in his stride.

His first words in the post-fight interview immediately after the knockout win were “it is what it is,” when speaking with Dazn’s Ade Oladipo. His first words at the post-fight press conference were: “God is good, God is good, God is good. We got the W,” and he then proceeded to thank his team.

Joshua had a no-nonsense approach all week leading to the fight.

The Watford man maintained the same focused look throughout pre-fight dressing room preparations and ring walk, and still kept it even after that final right hand knocked Ngannou clean out.

In his quest back towards glory, a loss to Ngannou would have been disastrous for Joshua.

With Fury sat ringside, Joshua sent an emphatic message that he’s still an elite opponent.

"I had a s--- performance against Ngannou," Fury said. "It was no secret. I've never said any different. However, styles make fights, and I almost got it right. I predicted one round AJ over there with Eddie Hearn. ... Listen, he done absolutely fantastic tonight. He lit him up with the right hand, which was perfect and knocked him out.

"That's what a boxer should have done to him. ... But if he fights me in the future after I've dealt with Usyk twice next year, then it'd be a different game.”

Let’s hope we find out soon.

In the post-fight interview, Anthony Joshua said: “I’m just here to fight. I’m going to go back to my cage, lock myself away, and then I’m going to be let out when it’s time to fight again. So whatever they want me to do, I’m down for whatever.”

Talk is cheap, and Joshua’s proven to walk the talk. His career has shown his willingness to be down for whatever, and fight whoever, and an active Joshua is great for the heavyweight division.