Boxing champion, Anthony Joshua has vowed not to make the financial mistakes made by his predecessors as he prepares for the fourth defence of his IBF heavyweight title against late replacement Carlos Takam on Saturday night, The Independent reports.
Joshua’s earning potential has rocketed along with his profile since he emphatically announced his arrival on the world stage with his stoppage win over Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley in April.
It continued the astonishing career trajectory for Joshua who was still considered a relative novice when he won gold at the London Olympics.
Joshua said, “The Tysons, the Riddick Bowes, the Holyfields, we all know their stories outside the ring and I have always wanted to manage that. We have been working on it for three or four years so it’s not much of a shock. If you suddenly win the world title, all these opportunities can come your way.
“We’ve been working on this from way before so I was prepared for it. It’s about understanding the journey. I have always been open about my positives and negatives.”
Despite amassing ring earnings in excess of nine figures, Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003. Bowe followed suit two years later, while Holyfield had to sell off his prized possessions to appease federal bankruptcy lawyers in 2012.
Joshua says his biggest outlay since he starting commanding purses in excess of eight figures has been a large family home he is intending to renovate and move into in north London.
Sporting a £350,000 watch Joshua insisted he remains only too happy to reap the benefits of his position, but that it will not deflect him from his main goal of boxing greatness.