Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has expressed that he would not encourage his son to pursue a career in boxing, despite the lucrative nature of the sport. Joshua, who began boxing at 18 and is a former two-time heavyweight champion, has enjoyed significant financial success, with a current net worth of $75 million. However, in a candid interview with BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, he shared that it would not be a “wise decision” for his son, Joseph Joshua, whom he affectionately calls “little JJ,” to follow in his footsteps.
Joshua’s journey into boxing was marked by personal challenges, including an arrest for fighting and experiencing homelessness at the age of 17. Despite these hardships, he has risen to prominence in the boxing world, yet remains cautious about encouraging his children to enter the same profession. He emphasized the importance of choosing one’s path, noting his preference for his son to become an accountant, a profession he believes would equip JJ with valuable skills and stability.
Ultimately, Joshua’s primary advice to his son is to excel in whatever career he chooses. He advocates for personal best and believes understanding numbers through accountancy would be beneficial. “If I was to choose a career for him, I would ask him to probably look at accountancy because I think it’s good to understand numbers,” Joshua said, highlighting his hope for JJ to be the best man he can be.