Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua faced the very real possibility of a lengthy prison sentence as a teenager.
After years of questions, Joshua finally opened up about how the threat of a 15-year jail sentence finally forged his path in boxing. He spoke with Ebro Darden of Apple Music’s Songs for Life about his life journey during the pandemic.
Joshua, who held three versions of the top division crown on two occasions, was locked up for two weeks in pre-trial detention as a teenager on an alleged drug charge.
Anthony Joshua in prison
The Londoner, threatened with a long term that could land him in jail for up to 30 years, started exercising to be prepared for prison thugs.
As he explained in his appearance on Apple’s Song for Life, the rest is history. Darden, the show’s host, didn’t hold back from an honest exchange with Joshua.
Ebro: In 2009 you spent two weeks in prison?
Antonio Josué: Yes. A couple more weeks. Nothing, nothing important. Yes.
Ebro: Nothing important?
Anthony Joshua: No, I was just. I was connected so I had been charged. It is what we call being charged.
So it’s what we call preventive detention. So they keep you in a safe place.
Ebro: To find out what you are?
Antonio Josué: Yes. So, obviously, you cannot influence any of the issues in the case. You can’t just go and see certain people, to be sure. That’s how it is.
Ebro: That time you were in prison, it was two weeks. What do you remember from that moment?
Anthony Joshua: I feel like I was looking at 15 years old. I thought I’d make it easy. I would have been out maybe two years ago. [2018].
So I was like, “Great. No problem. If he’s guilty, he’s guilty.
Ebro: Really?
Antonio Josué: Yes. It’s just a mentality.
So my mindset was in a different place. I was – “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” – kind of mentality.
And then I remember these little kids, not kids but people my age, that was over the top.
There was a kid that was in the back, just screaming. We’re just trying to relax. This is our time out of the cell. And then I looked back. It’s like, “What are you looking at?”
I said, “Who are you talking to?” I mean, like. Also, because I didn’t have any of my stuff back then. So it’s like, basic.
So you start learning, how to start learning quickly. But when I got bail, I started learning to box and lift weights.
Because I figured if I was going to serve a long sentence, I’d have these little idiots in jail. I’m going to go in there. I’m going to be myself.
Early beginnings of boxing
Ebro: I have to be ready.
Antonio Josué: Yes. So I started lifting weights, my cousin and I. He said, “Come to mine.” We bought one of these all-in-one weight machines.
Eber: Yes.
Anthony Joshua: So we put it in the living room. I would bench press. Listening to Papoose, 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin.
I had no idea. I just thought it was like bench presses. And he showed me shoulder press, delts. You know what I mean?
So I say, “Yes. Now. Now, I’m in my business.” I signed up for one of these tough guy gyms. Because I was on a tag, obviously I’m out in hood condition. So I have the tag on my legs.
So I have to be home at eight every day. She was in a strict routine, a time when she was only 17, 18 years old.
And I think that’s what helped me with my boxing. That when I came off the tag, I was already in a position where I was ready to take off with boxing.
And he had to; whatever job the devil had for me, I had to block it out and keep myself focused on a straight path. And that’s still a battle today, but I know how to handle it.
Olympic Games
Within a few years, Joshua was a full-fledged member of the Team GB Squad. He was on his way to the Olympics in his hometown.
One gold medal later, AJ was the most wanted young fighter on the planet in 2013. He turned pro with Eddie Hearn.
Joshua has since become one of the most successful British heavyweights in the history of the sport.
It could have been so different.
Songs For Life aired on Apple Music and is available on demand at apple.co/_SongsForLife.
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