The former two-time world champion did not need too long before eventually giving his top five heavyweight fighters in the history of the sport
Anthony Joshua did not hesitate when naming his top five greatest heavyweight fighters of all time.
It continues to be the age-old debate in boxing. The sport has seen many hard-hitting behemoths over the last century or so. But ex-professionals and legends of the fight game struggle to agree on the top-five best heavyweights of all-time. It’s a discussion that will continue to have people pulling their hair out for years to come.
At the end of the day, though, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Joshua – a former two-time heavyweight champion – was recently asked to name his top five fighters of in the history of the sport to compete in boxing’s heaviest division. Whilst the 36-year-old needed some slight thinking time, he did not stutter when revealing his list, which included himself!
“Obviously Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, myself, Mike Tyson…. and Jim Corbett.” Speaking of Tyson’s inclusion, Joshua said: “I watched an interview and Emanuel Steward said it best. There’s not many fighters who come into a generation that make 6’6 guys want to box like they are 5’11. That have 6’6 guys rolling their heads, wearing black shorts and Mike Tyson was a generational icon. Not just for his boxing skill, but his aura, his psychology. He showed us Cus D’Amato. He introduced us. Obviously had the fighters Cus trained before but Mike Tyson brought Cus D’Amato to the forefront. He added a lot to the heavyweight game and not just from a fighting point.”
Watch Jake vs Joshua live on Netflix for free
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will face off for a heavyweight clash in Miami on December 19. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, the brand’s ‘lowest ever price’ for Sky TV.
Many may question Joshua’s decision to include himself, but who are they to argue? From as soon as he laced up the gloves for the very first time, ‘AJ’ has always been confident in his skillset, backing himself to achieve great things in the sport of boxing. After striking gold at the Olympic Games in London in 2012, Joshua was quick to turn professional soon after and impress on the regional scene.
It was not long before he was handed a world title shot. After blitzing through every opponent, the 36-year-old fought for a world title in his 16th professional fight. The Brit needed merely minutes to render Charles Martin unconscious and become a champion for the first time in his career. It was at that moment the nation knew they had a real gem on their hands. Wins over Dominic Breazeale, Eric Molina, Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin followed before Joshua had to show some adversity for the first time.
‘AJ’ suffered the first defeat of his professional career to Andy Ruiz Jr back in 2019 – arguably one of the biggest upsets the sport had witnessed in quite some time. After licking his wounds very briefly, the confident Brit demanded an immediate rematch – and his wish was granted. Eventually, he became a two-time world champion after outclassing his Mexican adversary in the sequel.
A routine night at the office followed a year later against Kubrat Pulev, but then came Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian was not a well established heavyweight at the time, but his exploits at cruiserweight made him a forced to be reckoned with. In an epic back-and-forth scrap in north London in 2021, Usyk snatched Joshua’s belts from him after a famous points victory.
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The pair met in an immediate rematch in Saudi Arabia a year later, but the Ukrainian showed levels to the game. Joshua made a good account of himself, but still came away disappointed. Approaching his mid-30s, Joshua had to start his career from scratch. He returned in April 2023, defeating Jermaine Franklin on points in front of his home fans, before stoppage victories over Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
Joshua’s win over Ngannou earned him another crack at the world title. In a bid to become a three-time champion, the Brit left no stone unturned ahead of his fight with fellow countryman Daniel Dubois. But alas, it was not enough to emerge victorious after ‘Triple D’ knocked ‘AJ’ out in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium. His September 2024 bout with Dubois was Joshua’s last appearance in the squared-circle. Despite the recent setbacks, ‘AJ’ is still regarded as one of the best heavyweights of his era, having put the sport of boxing on the map.
The Brit himself is planning on one last roll of the dice next year, but must first get through boxing novice Jake Paul next month. Both men are due to meet in a professional heavyweight showdown on December 19 in Miami. The bout will be contested over eight three-minute rounds, with the pair set to wear 10oz gloves.
When is Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul?
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will clash in Miami on December 19, just six days before Christmas. The pair will likely walk to the ring at around 11pm local time which would be 4am in the UK. Fight times are usually set to benefit the American audience and are subject to change depending on how long the undercard takes to complete. The event is set to be shown live on Netflix.
