Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni “AJ” Joshua (born 15 October 1989) is a Nigerian-British professional heavyweight boxer who held the unified heavyweight championship of the world twice between 2017 and 2021. The 2012 Olympic super heavyweight gold medallist is one of the two highest grossing boxers in modern British sport history, alongside Tyson Fury. Industry estimates place Joshua’s 2026 net worth in the $90 million to $120 million range, built on a string of stadium pay per view fights and a long term endorsement portfolio.
Born in Watford to Nigerian parents, Joshua rose from an Olympic gold medal to become a unified world heavyweight champion. His win over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley ranked among the most-watched nights in modern British sport. That period made him one of the biggest commercial draws in the division.
As a British-Nigerian champion, he has been a source of pride on both sides of his heritage. His career has shown both the heights and the fine margins of the heavyweight division.
Joshua was born in Watford to Robert Joshua (a Nigerian father of Yoruba descent) and Yeta Odusanya (a Nigerian mother). He spent part of his childhood in Lagos before returning to the United Kingdom for secondary school. He took up boxing relatively late, in his late teens, but rose quickly through the British amateur ranks. He won super heavyweight silver at the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships and gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, beating Roberto Cammarelle in a controversial split decision final.
Professional career
Joshua turned professional in 2013 under Matchroom Boxing and was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine in 2014. He won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles in 2015 and 2016 and unified the IBF, WBA (Super), and IBO heavyweight world titles by stopping Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on 29 April 2017, a fight named Fight of the Year by both The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Subsequent victories over Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker (adding the WBO), and Alexander Povetkin extended his unified reign through 2018.
In June 2019, Joshua suffered a stunning upset to Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden, losing all four belts. He regained them in December 2019 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. He lost the unified championship to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and lost the immediate rematch in August 2022. He rebuilt his record through 2023 and 2024, regaining the IBF title in a stoppage win over Daniel Dubois in September 2024 at Wembley Stadium, before losing it back on a fifth round stoppage in 2025.
Wembley and the unified reign
The Wladimir Klitschko fight at Wembley Stadium on 29 April 2017 is the bout that defined Joshua’s era of British heavyweight boxing. The 90,000 capacity crowd was the largest post war boxing crowd in the UK, and the fight, which Joshua won by 11th round stoppage after being knocked down in the sixth, was named Fight of the Year by both The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He defended the unified title against Carlos Takam (Cardiff, October 2017, 10th round stoppage), Joseph Parker (Cardiff, March 2018, unanimous decision win that added the WBO belt), and Alexander Povetkin (Wembley, September 2018, seventh round stoppage).
Ruiz upset, Diriyah rematch, Usyk fights, and the rebuild
The Andy Ruiz Jr. fight at Madison Square Garden on 1 June 2019 was one of the most consequential upsets in heavyweight boxing of the 2010s. Ruiz, a late replacement for Jarrell Miller after Miller failed multiple drug tests, knocked Joshua down four times before a seventh round stoppage. The rematch in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on 7 December 2019 saw Joshua regain the unified championship by unanimous decision in a markedly different, more cautious performance.
The first Oleksandr Usyk fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 September 2021 saw Joshua lose the WBA Super, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles by unanimous decision. The August 2022 rematch in Jeddah saw a split decision for Usyk. Joshua rebuilt his record through 2023 against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin, before regaining the IBF title with a fifth round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley on 21 September 2024. He lost the belt back in a 2025 unification fight.
Net worth and income
Industry estimates place Joshua’s 2026 net worth in the $90 million to $120 million range, anchored by pay per view fight purses (multiple eight figure payouts at Wembley and in Saudi Arabia), Matchroom and DAZN broadcast deals, and a long endorsement portfolio. Confirmed endorsement partners include Under Armour, Beats by Dre, Land Rover Sport, Lucozade, and Hugo Boss. As with all such figures, these are estimates from public reporting on purses and endorsement deals, not verified personal accounts, and not financial advice.
Why Anthony Joshua matters
Anthony Joshua helped return heavyweight boxing to the era of packed British stadiums, with his win over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley among the most-watched nights in modern British sport. As a British-Nigerian unified champion, he became one of the biggest commercial draws the division has seen and a source of pride on both sides of his heritage.
Reader questions
Is Anthony Joshua Nigerian or British? He was born in Watford, England, and is a British citizen. His parents are both Nigerian (Yoruba), and he spent part of his childhood in Lagos.
How many world titles has Anthony Joshua held? He has held the unified heavyweight championship twice, including the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts at various points between 2017 and 2024.
Did Anthony Joshua win an Olympic gold? Yes, super heavyweight gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
What is Anthony Joshua’s net worth in 2026? Industry estimates place it at $90m to $120m. Estimates from public reporting, not verified.
Conclusion
He came to boxing late, in his late teens, and still took super heavyweight silver at the 2011 world championships and gold at London 2012 against Roberto Cammarelle. He turned professional with Matchroom in 2013 and was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring the following year. British and Commonwealth titles followed in 2015 and 2016.
The Klitschko night at Wembley on 29 April 2017 drew 90,000 people, the largest post-war boxing crowd in Britain, and he won by 11th round stoppage after being dropped in the sixth. Defences against Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin carried the unified reign through 2018. Andy Ruiz Jr, a late replacement for Jarrell Miller, then took all four belts at Madison Square Garden on 1 June 2019.
He regained them in Diriyah that December, lost them to Oleksandr Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021, and lost the Jeddah rematch on a split decision. A rebuild through 2023 led to a fifth round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024 that returned the IBF belt, before he gave it up again in 2025. Under Armour, Beats by Dre, Land Rover Sport, Lucozade and Hugo Boss have kept his commercial profile intact throughout.
Max Adeyemi is a Lagos-based writer covering Nigerian and African entertainment, sport, business, and culture. He has spent over a decade tracking the careers, controversies, and quiet achievements of the people who move the culture. He writes all profiles on Nolly.
