A video has emerged on social media which shows Anthony Joshua in conversation with a former inmate he recognised from his time in Reading Prison.
The footage, which appears to have emerged from Dillian Whyte's fight with Jermaine Franklin back in November, features AJ conversing with what appears to be a fan in the crowd.
However, it is revealed that the two have met before, as Joshua reveals that he spent time in jail with the individual, before going on to take a selfie with his old cellmate:
"I can't remember how I got my head punched in how many times?" Joshua states before adding "we were in Reading jail together, years back."
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"Crazy! How mad is that?" adds Joshua before taking a photo with a second fan who isn't seen on camera.
Joshua has spoke publicly of his time in jail, admitting that he spent 'a couple of weeks' in Reading Prison for 'fighting and other crazy stuff' prior to becoming a professional boxer.
"When I got bail, that's when I started learning how to box"
In an interview with talkSPORT back in 2020, Joshua spoke of his short stint in prison, before going on to talk of how he was granted bail, and how his bail tag helped elevate his boxing career.
“When I got bail, that’s when I started learning how to box and lift weights," he said.
“Because I thought, ‘If I’m gonna do a long sentence and I’ve got these little idiot kids in the jail, then I’m gonna come in there and I’m gonna back myself.’
“So I started pumping weights, me and my cousin… I signed up to one of these hard man gyms.
“Because I was on tag – obviously I’m out on bail conditions so I’ve got the tag on my leg – so I have to be home at 8pm every day.
“I was in a strict routine at a time when I was only 17/18."
“And I think that’s what helped me with my boxing. When I came off of tag, I was already in a position where I was ready to take off with boxing.
“I just had to kind of, whatever work the devil had for me, I had to block it out and stay focused on a righteous path.
“That’s still a battle today, but I know how to manage it.”
Joshua would go on to become only the second British boxer in the history of the sport to win gold at the Olympic Games, before going on to unify the heavyweight division on two separate occasions.
The 33-year-old picked up his first victory since 2020 with a unanimous points decision over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday.
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing
Tom Young