Anthony Joshua: I’m Hungry For More, But Will Always Stay Humble

Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua has promised to remain dedicated and humble, after winning back his championship belts from Mexico’s Andy Ruiz Jnr, megasportsarena.com reports.

In the wake of Saturday’s night rematch in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, ‘AJ’ admitted he learnt several lessons from his first professional loss to the same opponent on June 1st in Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA, which was his first outing in God’s Own Country.

In their latest outing, though, with both rivals slugging it out in the rematch on neutral ground, Joshua came tops on the unanimous scores of all three judges, 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109, which left his fans worldwide, especially in his father’s country, Nigeria, celebrating all through the night into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Joshua regained lost pride, as he romped to a brutal knock-out victory over Andy Ruiz of Mexico, to reclaim three world title belts he lost to the same fighter back in June.

The June 1st bout in Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA, was Joshua’s maiden fight in America, but where ‘AJ’ failed to shine six months ago in God’s Own Country, he looked fitter, trimmer, more alert and rejuvenated for the rematch in Saudi Arabia.

While Ruiz caught him unawares with his fast fists and powerful jabs, which belied the uncanny sight of a fatty, seemingly clumsy and out of sort rotund body that ostensibly led to him being underrated in the original fight, Joshua was dead serious and not ready to take prisoners this time out in The Middle East, where the rematch was tagged ‘Battle On The Dunes.’

However, the man of the moment says he will not allow the celebrations and upcoming yuletide festivities get to his head, as he wants to remain sober and plan for the next chapter of his career, as the 30-year two-time champ says he must never allow another slip derail him.

En route top becoming the latest two-time world heavyweight boxing champion, ‘AJ’ put up a sublime display that saw him stay tactically stable and disciplined all through the 12 rounds, not allowing Ruiz plant his feet and used effective jabs to keep himself far away from his foe’s fast hands.

The gameplan worked all the way, as as Joshua dominated every round, getting hurt a little only in the 10th, and he ended the night giving thanks to God, his back-up team, all fans and the opposing camp for helping him to rediscover himself.

Joshua pledged: “I’m humble in defeat, and I’m going to stay humble in victory.There was never a change in mentality, you know the saying; stay hungry, stay humble.

“I want to say thank you to Andy Ruiz and his family, thank you to Saudi Arabia, thank you to all of the travelling fans. Thank you to god, thank you to Eddie Hearn and Barry Hearn and thank you to all my team.”