By Shaun Murphy-
Anthony Joshua was awarded an OBE for his services to sport by Prince Charles in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
The 29-year-old was all smiles as he received the MBE , marking the end of a successful year. The one setback for Joshua in 2018 was the failure to set up a fight with WBC champion, Deontey Wilder, who went on to draw with Tyson Fury in Los Angeles at the beginning of the month. Fury put on an impressive display in that fight, stealing the limelight away from Joshua for a while.
However, the Londoner, who holds four world titles, has since been pushing to get the unbeaten American in the ring for his scheduled April 13 booked venue in Wembley, but Tyson Fury is set to have a rematch with Wilder for that date.
Joshua received his first OBE in 2013 after winning olympic gold in the super heavyweight division at London 2012.
“But what I can do is control what I say and what I’m doing. I made sure, with the negotiations, I’ve booked the date in advance, set the venue in advance, and I’m making my point clear in front of everyone watching. Aj’s next opponent is unknown, but he may well go up against the winner of Saturday’s hotly eagerly anticipated bout beytween Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora. Expressing an interest in fighting Wilder next spring, Joshua said:
“As I’ve said, I’m willing to fight Deontay Wilder – April 13th in London,”.
“So I don’t know what more I have to do to get that message across. He’s more interested in fighting Tyson Fury. Tyson Fury holds no world titles.
“Let me say this, I can’t control what Deontay Wilder does, I can’t control what Tyson Fury does – or even as far as what they say.“I’m willing to fight any one of these guys, especially the champion Deontay Wilder, April 13th at Wembley. What more can I say”. There isn’t much more he can say, but Wilder’s decision to fight Fury in a rematch is not out of the American’s interest, but out of the public’s demand after their last controversial contest that ended in a draw. Most observers believe Fury deserved the win against Wilder, but the two knock downs against Fury made the fight a draw.
The Eye Of Media.Com was so split in our own assessment of the fight, leading to drawn out discussions on how the fight should be reported, eventually leading to several recordings of the fight to be watched again. Whatever our opinions on that fight or Joshua’s date with Wilder failing to happen, the Londoner is still currently the most marketable heavyweight in the world, with an impeccable character, and worthy of this OBE. Next year will present new challenges for him.