VIDEO: Anthony Joshua & Jose Mourinho Celebrations After Joshua Win
Anthony Joshua is the new Special One after ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho queued up to meet him.
Mourinho surprised Joshua when he arrived unannounced at The O2 to see him KO American Charles Martin inside two rounds.
“Jose was watching the build-up and then decided, all of a sudden, he wanted a ticket last-minute,” said Joshua. “They managed to get him a seat and I met him afterwards.
“I’ve met him before and he remembered me. We had a good five-minute chat. I respect him. We were in the changing room and he’s a cool guy. He just congratulated me. There were some good faces there. I saw Jess Ennis, too.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn was shocked when he saw Mourinho and says his presence shows how big Joshua is becoming.
“We didn’t even know he was coming,” said the Matchroom Sport MD. “He just rocked up at half-six at the Arena and started texting people to get in.
“He then queued up at the changing room to meet him. AJ is a massive star. He is the new figurehead of British boxing.”
Joshua’s rise in his two and a half years as a pro has been meteoric and no one has boxed fewer than his 34 rounds to become world heavyweight champion.
Even Joshua, 26, was impressed by this stat as he relaxed in his fight hotel in Canary Wharf yesterday.
“Yeah, that is quick,” he said. “That’s crazy. Dillian Whyte was the only fight which went seven rounds. Everything else has been one to three.”
The heavyweight boxing champion of the world trained with the Red Devils last season, and injured striker Ibrahimovic is clearly a big fan.
The Swedish maestro dropped in on Joshua, along with Tony Bellew, ahead of the big fight at the Principality Stadium last night, and the two appeared to be getting on very well judging from these intimate backstage pictures.
It turned out to be a great night for Joshua, as the 28-year-old defended his IBF and WBA titles by stopping Takam in the 10th round.
He damaged his nose in a heavy early collision and was given a good fight by the Frenchman but referee Phil Edwards eventually stepped in to end the contest.
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