Anthony Joshua admits to battling with anxiety

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has admitted he experiences anxiety during his ring walks before fights. The Watford-born fighter has openly admitted to being overcome by pre-fight nerves which make him consider quitting before the first bell of a fight.

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Joshua reclaimed his world heavyweight titles with a commanding display against Mexican-American, Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia last month. The rematch with Ruiz Jr. came after a stunning upset win for him in New York City back in June, with fans and critics speculating something was not right behind the scenes for ‘AJ’ and his team.

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Anthony Joshua has admitted he experiences anxiety during his ring walks before fights (Credit: Alamy).

Speaking to Sky Sports’ podcast, Sidelines, Joshua said: “It’s all fun and games in the gym, but then you walk down the aisle to the ring and you think, ‘what if I just turn back?’ But I say to myself ‘you’ve just come too far to turn back, so you just have to deal with the anxiety’,” the Brit explained.

When you’re dedicated to yourself, you can be dedicated to anything. I am a fighter. Even when I stop fighting I’ll always have that passion. I don’t really put on that face for fighting and then another face for outside of the ring.”

The 30-year-old is expected to return to the ring against IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, despite calls for him to vacate his world titles, over facing scheduled mandatory bouts. The Brit has extended an olive branch to domestic rival, Tyson Fury, ahead of his rematch with Deontay Wilder on February 22 in Las Vegas – offering to help as a sparring partner – notwithstanding the hope of a later fight with Fury.