Connect with us

Boxing

Anthony Joshua targets knock out against Usyk

Published

on

Anthony Joshua’s ‘stay hungry, stay humble’ mantra was displayed on the stunning mural

Anthony Joshua has revealed his pride after a stunning 40-foot mural was unveiled on Tottenham High Road ahead of his bout against Oleksandr Usyk. 

Joshua’s mantra of ‘stay hungry, stay humble’ is displayed alongside a picture encapsulating the night he avenged his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr, regaining his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in a memorable evening in Saudi Arabia back in 2019.

Joshua is seen getting a glimpse of the mural for the first time on a laptop as he prepares for Saturday night’s match-up. 

The heavyweight, who was clearly highly impressed by the finished product, spoke of his honour after joining an illustrious group.  

‘I’ve seen what Akse has done with Captain Tom, George Floyd and Rashford, as well as Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips and Ian Curtis,’ Joshua said. 

‘So, to be amongst these great people is an honour and I’m happy that he chose me to be a part of this great history that he’s creating.’

Advertisement

He continued: ‘I’m not saying that I’m an icon, but the fact that he’s painting people that are doing big things makes me feel humbled and honoured. 

‘The fight in this painting is also taken from when I became two-time heavyweight champion of the world, so I feel like it has a pivotal history.’

Joshua is pursuing an historic all-British undisputed showdown against Tyson Fury, who is set to defend his WBC belt against Deontay Wilder on October 9.   

The pair have a long-standing history and were on the precipice of a mega-fight this summer, with promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren indicating the bout will be made should the pair overcome their upcoming hurdles.  

It would be a landmark moment in British sport, another to add to the collection for Joshua, who has already been awarded an OBE in 2018 to add to the MBE he received following his gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012. 

Advertisement
With less than a day until the showdown, Joshua has also revealed he will go for the knockout. He holds advantages in height and reach and has said he plans to outgun Usyk in the ring

Joshua’s impressive mural, commissioned by JD Sport, of whom the heavyweight is an ambassador, is the latest piece of work in Akse P19’s ever-growing collection. 

The artist commemorated Rashford’s charity work, in which he worked tirelessly to ensure that poverty-stricken children are fed during school holidays, with an equally eye-catching mural in Manchester. 

The mural was subsequently defaced following England’s Euro 2020 final penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy this summer, with the Manchester United star subjected to racist abuse on social media alongside team-mates Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. 

Hundreds of tributes were subsequently placed on the mural, which were then removed and preserved at a library and on a virtual ‘Wall of Hope’.    

Akse P19’s work also includes a mural of Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, pictured alongside club legends Albert Johanneson and Lucas Radebe to honour the club’s diverse history, in addition to depictions of Captain Tom Moore and George Floyd, both in Manchester. 

The 31-year-old is set to defend his collection of titles against the former undisputed cruiserweight champion and now heavyweight contender on Saturday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

Advertisement

Joshua, fighting in front of a packed stadium in London for the first time since stopping Alexander Povetkin at Wembley in 2018, will headline the first boxing event at Tottenham’s state-of-the-art arena.

Ahead of the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight clash, artist Akse P19 – who has a growing reputation following his poignant depictions of Marcus Rashford, Captain Sir Thomas Moore, George Floyd, Kalvin Phillips, Ian Curtis and others – has created another stunning spectacle. 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement