Article Was Last Updated August 26, 2026
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, known to most as Anthony Joshua or AJ, was born on 15 October 1989 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. He is 36 years old and is one of the biggest names in modern boxing.
Joshua grew up as a Christian but now describes himself more as spiritual than strictly religious. He proudly identifies as Yoruba since his family is Nigerian, with roots in Sagamu, Ogun State. AJ spent parts of his childhood in England and in Nigeria.
AJ first rose to prominence when he won Olympic gold for Great Britain at the London 2012 Games. From there, he went on to become a two-time world heavyweight champion.
Family Background
Anthony Joshua’s dad is Robert Joshua, also called Jonathan, and he’s of Nigerian and Irish descent. Robert grew up partly in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Anthony’s parents divorced when he was about 12, and after that, his father returned to Nigeria. He kept in touch, though, and supported Anthony’s boxing career.
His mother, Yeta Odusanya, was born in Nigeria and is Yoruba. After the split, she raised Anthony and his siblings mostly on her own. She’s been a huge influence in his life, guiding him even as he became a world champion. Anthony has said she’s always been “his number one” and values family above all.
Anthony has three known siblings. Jacob is his younger brother and likes music. He’s sometimes seen at Anthony’s fights. Janet is his older sister and keeps a low profile. Loretta is another sister who also stays private but appears in some family photos. Anthony has other siblings too.
He also has an extended family that played a role in his life. A cousin, Ben Ileyemi, is a pro boxer who helped introduce him to the sport. AJ has grandparents on both sides: Isaaco Joshua and Moya Veronica Harper on his dad’s side, and James A. Odusanya and Olufunmilayo Solanke on his mum’s.
Education
AJ spent part of his early childhood in Nigeria. During this time, he lived with his mother and attended Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State. It was a boarding school, founded by Dr Tai Solarin. The routine there was strict. Joshua has said the discipline and structure stayed with him and helped shape his mindset later on.
When he was about 12, his parents divorced and he moved back to the United Kingdom. He joined Kings Langley Secondary School in Hertfordshire, starting in Year Seven. At school, Anthony Joshua was very sporty. He focused on football and athletics. He even broke the Year Nine 100 metres record, running 11.6 seconds.
Anthony Joshua finished secondary school and did not go on to university. He stayed in the UK and started working instead. He took on different jobs during this time. One of them was bricklaying. When he was around 18, he found boxing. That was the moment that changed the direction of his life.
Career
Anthony Joshua didn’t start boxing until he was 18. Before that, he was into football and athletics and showed a lot of promise. His cousin got him into boxing, and he trained at Finchley ABC in North London. He quickly made a name for himself, winning the Haringey Box Cup in 2009 and 2010 and the senior ABA Championships in 2010, just his 18th fight. He turned down £50,000 to go pro because he wanted medals, not money.
AJ joined the GB Boxing team and became British amateur champion. In 2011, he took silver at the World Championships, beating big names before losing narrowly to Magomedrasul Majidov. At the 2012 London Olympics, he won gold in the super-heavyweight division, edging Roberto Cammarelle in the final on a count-back, giving Great Britain its last gold of the Games. He was later named MBE in 2013 and OBE in 2018.
Early Professional Career
Joshua turned pro in October 2013. He won his debut fight by first-round TKO and went on a crazy knockout streak, winning his first 22 fights mostly by KO. He claimed the WBC International title in 2014, then the Commonwealth and British heavyweight titles by 2015.
His first world title came in April 2016 when he knocked out Charles Martin to win the IBF belt. He defended it successfully before his big moment at Wembley in April 2017, beating Wladimir Klitschko by 11th-round TKO. AJ then added the WBA (Super) and WBO titles to become unified champion. He defended against Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin.
Upsets and Comebacks
In June 2019, he was shocked by Andy Ruiz Jr., losing all his belts, but he came back in December to win the rematch. He defended against Kubrat Pulev in 2020 but then lost to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and again in 2022. He returned in 2023 with wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.
Joshua has also faced crossover fights. He beat Francis Ngannou in 2024, lost to Daniel Dubois later that year, and knocked out Jake Paul in December 2025. By late 2025, his record sits around 29 wins and 4 losses, with 26 KOs.
Off the ring, he’s made serious business moves and remains one of the few boxers to win Olympic gold and multiple world titles. In December 2025, he survived a car crash in Nigeria that killed two team members. He’s been recovering and training, with a return to the ring likely.
Wife and Children
Anthony Joshua met Nicole Osbourne as teens. They split but stay on good terms while co‑parenting their son, Joseph “JJ” Joshua, born in October 2015. Fatherhood changed Joshua, making him more responsible and focused beyond boxing. He doesn’t want JJ to box and encourages other interests like school, and he’s said he hopes for a big family someday.
However, Joshua is single with no confirmed marriage. Rumours have linked him to stars like Maya Jama, Vick Hope, Cara Delevingne, and Rita Ora, but nothing was ever confirmed. He says boxing makes serious relationships tough and he’d want someone down‑to‑earth who fits into his family life.
Net Worth
Joshua is one of the richest boxers of his generation. By early 2025, his net worth sits between $150 million and $195 million.
Anthony Joshua made his fortune mainly in the ring. The Andy Ruiz Jr. rematch in 2019 reportedly earned him £36 million. By 2022, his second fight with Oleksandr Usyk brought in £54 million, and the 2024 fight with Francis Ngannou added £39 million. His December 2025 bout with Jake Paul reportedly guaranteed around £70 million. Fight purses alone have topped £219 million.
Endorsements add a steady stream of cash. He’s worked with Under Armour, Hugo Boss, EA Sports, Jaguar Land Rover, Beats by Dre, and DAZN, pulling in millions every year. Some deals may include investment stakes with brands like DAZN or Alpine F1.
Joshua has also invested in property. His 258 Group manages over £75 million in real estate, including a £40 million Hertfordshire home, a £26 million London Bond Street property, and a £1.2 million penthouse in Oman.
On the business side, he launched AJBXNG, a fitness and lifestyle brand, and the AJ Boxing Academy for training and talent development. He’s also invested in fitness and nutrition ventures for extra income.
Houses and Cars
Anthony Joshua hasn’t just boxed his way to the top—he’s invested smart. Early on, he bought a two‑bed ex‑council flat in Golders Green for his mum (£175k). Later, he rented a £20k/week mansion in St John’s Wood while climbing the boxing ranks. Today, he owns a £1m home in North London plus three Watford houses worth nearly £2m, and his commercial property portfolio spans central London estates and even a £25m Bond Street building.
His car game is just as strong. Highlights include a Range Rover SVAutobiography (£150k), Jaguar XJR (£93k), Rolls‑Royce Phantom (£600k), Mercedes V8 BiTurbo (£146k), and an Audi A3 S‑Line. He’s also gifted a £95k BMW to his first trainer. Total car value? Around £1m.
Joshua even flies in style—a Gulfstream G550 private jet (£45m), courtesy of sponsorship.
