Jay-Z inspired boxer Anthony Joshua to success

SPEND a few minutes talking to Anthony Joshua and you are quickly struck at just how driven Britain’s huge heavyweight hope is and by his insatiable thirst for knowledge.

Taking up the sport at the relatively late age of 18, the 6ft 6in colossus is a man in a hurry, as he has already amply demonstrated with an Olympic super-heavyweight gold medal around his neck, and two quick-fire knock-out wins under his belt in just three months as a professional.

Potentially, he holds the world in those hard-hitting hands but the 24-year-old from Watford is determined to do it the right way – Joshua has a serious rage for perfection.

That is why he is so eager and grateful to glean every bit of advice he can. But if you think his inspiration comes from champions such as Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko, you would be wrong. Take earlier this month. Global rap and hip-hop star Jay Z caused quite a stir when he travelled to his sellout concert at London’s 02 Arena by Tube, but it was nothing like the impact he had on one man watching when the music started.

Joshua said: “There’s not many people I could reel off the top of my head that I look up to or are idols. He’s a legend, bigger than rap music. The way he carries himself is so professional. Going to that concert gave me a chance to witness greatness, I wanted to see what it was like. I would have loved to have seen Michael Jackson perform.

“It’s more than just going to a concert, honestly. Watching Jay Z inspired me. And did you see the pictures? He went to some of his shows on the Tube!

“He is at a level of success through his music, but he’s humble. I think that’s key.”

Joshua is next up on the Prizefighter show at London’s York Hall on November 14, topping the Britain v USA international heavyweights bill – which contains brash American James Toney, who has won world titles at three different weights.

Joshua is a veritable sponge for any information and will soak up anything that will make him better, stronger, wiser, because he believes knowledge equals power.

He said: “What Toney’s done is unbelievable. If I get the chance I’ll ask him what does it take to be the real deal at that level, what did he do differently? It’s about getting all the pieces together. I was speaking to someone the other day and he said you have to train like you’re dead broke, like you haven’t got anything. And use whatever you’ve got to be successful.

“I have to have the mentality to train as a challenger, then I’ll have installed a hunger in me that can’t be taken away.”

Growing up, one of the soundtracks to Joshua’s life was Get Rich or Die Tryin’, the debut album by another American rapper, 50 Cent. It inspired him to turn away from the wrong path.

He said: “When we were younger and getting into trouble, I remember listening to the CD with one of my close friends. And it was that mentality – basically succeed or nothing. I was obviously putting that mentality in the wrong direction and maybe that’s why I’ve done all right in boxing, because I now use it in the right way.

“When you’re younger, out on the streets fighting, you get police trouble, family trouble. But here in the gym you get praise, people saying, ‘Well done, that was great’. And you get paid for it too.”

Joshua is smart enough to know that boxing, like his beloved rap music, is as much about the business as the performance. This just adds to the expectation on him to deliver every time he steps in to the ring. He said: “There’s pressure every time I fight, to win and look good doing it. Come fight time, it’s that thing – ‘Don’t lose, don’t get hit’.”

And he has been keen to learn for himself about TV rights and developing his brand, recently joining promoters Matchroom at the Sportel business convention in Monaco. It did not matter the trip coincided with his birthday, which also did not stop him spending time in the gym – Joshua is nothing if not well prepared.

ANTHONY JOSHUA uses LA Muscle as part of his training and nutrition plan (lamuscle.com).
 

Source:  www.express.co.uk/sport/boxing/440214/Jay-Z-inspired-boxer-Anthony-Joshua-to-success