Anthony Joshua jokes about joining Man United after meeting Jose Mourinho amid his victory

Anthony Joshua jokes about joining Man United after meeting Jose Mourinho amid his victory

If proof was needed of Joshua's star status then the sight of one of the world's top managers queuing up to congratulate the Watford-born fighter after his two-round demolition of Charles Martin to become IBF heavyweight king was it.

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was not the only huge name watching on from the VIP seats at a sold out O2 Arena.

British boxing is booming at the moment with 12 world champions.

But Joshua is bigger than boxing now, he is one of Britain's top sports stars as he joined WBO and WBA title holder Tyson Fury in the heavyweight champion of the world club.

The 6ft 6in sculpted body, the good looks, the charm and the down-to-earth attitude make him a marketer's dream.

And he can deliver on sport's biggest stage too as he proved here by taking out unbeaten American Martin with crunching right hands.

In the unlikely event it goes all wrong, there is another offer on the table from his new friend Mourinho, who managed to squeeze in ringside as the football world waits to see where he will manage next season.

"He was watching the build up to the fight, he suddenly wanted to come and then wanted last-minute tickets," said Joshua.

"They managed to get him a seat, he came on his own I think. I met him before and he remembered me. We had a good five-minute chat and he remembered me from there.

"I just spoke to him, walked back to the changing room with him and he is a cool guy. He congratulated me and said 'well done'.

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"I think he is going to Man United! If boxing goes wrong I think he is trying to poach me as a centre-back!"

Premier League strikers would think twice about trying to rough the 2012 Olympic champion up.

This was a devastating performance as he viciously put Martin away to become the IBF heavyweight champion after just 34 rounds of boxing across 16 fights.

Joshua had waited menacingly in the ring for 'Prince Charles' Martin, who walked into the arena wearing a crown.

But it was Joshua who would be king when he sent Martin to the canvas twice in the second round after a cagey opening three minutes in a performing that was as gleaming as his sparkling white shorts.

Martin would not beat the count after the second knockdown with one minute and 32 seconds of the round gone and Joshua just shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'that was easy' to the celebrating crowd.

In the immediate aftermath the champion felt underwhelmed by his success despite become just the second Brit, behind James DeGale, to win Olympic gold and a professional world title.

But he seemed more content as he sat in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Wharf yesterday morning discussing his remarkable rise from a novice fighter in 2008 to Olympic champion and now pro world title holder.

Joshua remained grounded as he knows this is just the first part of what he wants to achieve in the paid ranks ticked off.

"What I think it is the belt is good and it is a big achievement but now I want to beat the big names in the division," he said.

"I need names on my record. You're only as good as who you fight. I've achieved one side of it, now I have to do the rest.

"That is why I was a bit underwhelmed. Now I just have got more hunger. I just want to keep getting better."

Just in case he was thinking of getting too big for his boots, there will have been a reminder yesterday when he returned home to his mum Yeta.

Joshua - who he still lives with in the north London flat with his mum - will be back on chores duty despite becoming heavyweight champion.

"Of course I'll be on the chores," he said. "She makes me do anything. I have to go get the milk, eggs and other stuff."

Joshua may not want to be a role model but he ticks all the boxes to be the perfect one.

He is special at his sport and a gentleman outside of it with his bad past of street fighting and drug possession well behind him.

There is the feeling that this is just another stop on what will continue to be an amazing journey.