Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua given OBE in Queens Birthday Honours List for services to boxing

NIGERIAN-born heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua conferred with the OBE honour by Queen Elizabeth as part of her birthday celebrations in recognition of his services to the sports industry.

 

Joshua who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, became the undisputed world champion in March after winning his unification clash with Joseph Parker. He has thus been awarded an OBE, which stands for Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which the queen gives to an individual for a major local role in any activity such as business, charity or the public sector.

 

This is the latest accolade won by the 28-year-old Joshua, who was rewarded with an MBE in 2013 after claiming an Olympic gold medal at the London 2012 Games. Joshua now hopes to face WBC champion Deontay Wilder, with all the major belts at stake, but admits negotiations must remain realistic.

 

Joshua said: "Everyone has seen the gold at the end of the rainbow and everyone wants a piece. It's not a problem, there's enough in the pot for everyone to eat but just be realistic and that's all it is."

 

A WBA mandatory title defence against Alexander Povetkin could firstly take place in September, if the Wilder fight cannot be agreed for this year. As of February 2018, Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, was ranked as the world's best active heavyweight by The Ring, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and BoxRec.

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