TONIGHT won't be Anthony Joshua’s first big night in Tottenham.
This is because the heavyweight champion of world will not be drinking cheap cognac, alcopops, or cider on his way to the venue.
Anthony Joshua hopes to make sweet music for Oleksandr Usyk, buoyed with happy memories of the Opera House nightclub
Joshua was a regular at the Opera House nightclub with a few other amateur boxers before he won gold at the London Olympics 2012. He defends his world title tonight.
Joshua will be fighting Oleksandr Usyk in this fight in front of 68,000 people. It is his homecoming -- his first fight in front a packed house in Britain for three years.
Joshua, despite his global profile, the PS60million fortune, and the WBA and IBF bling around his waists, is convincing when Joshua talks about his dislike for fame.
When he is asked about his memories of clubbing in Tottenham, his smile warms and he recalls the fond memories.
Joshua stated: "Oh, Opera House -- yes, yeah.
"So one of our coaches was a bouncer. You need to know where you are going to be taken.
"We would train Monday through Friday, and then we'd all go out on weekends.
It was not serious, but it wasn't that serious. It was amateur boxing. We would still go out for a drink.
"We were all boxers so you can't really beat us (in a club). We were all going out together.
"We would go in, and if we got into a fight the bouncer will sling the other out anyway -- and then tell us where they're at!
"He would reply, "They're around the corner, there is one of them walking down there."
"We were always at the top. Opera House was the result of knowing a bouncer. They were great fun.
"I would drink Courvoisier and Mad Dog 20/20 cider. I'd also drink it in my car. I was the passenger. I was in the passenger seat.
"That was when I realized that boxing was helping me stay on the straight and narrow.
"I am sure that a few people still remember the days when i was out and about in Tottenham. I'm still about. Although I'm not as active (clubbing), I'm still around.
"I'm still out on the streets. I am still on the streets, even if I don't camp in camp. People still respect me. I was never a pussy.
"I can stand in a corner like a normal person. It's not as if I'm some celebrity star saying, "Oh my God, stay away! I'm not used all this!"
Joshua, a Watford boxer, maintains a WhatsApp group where he can connect with fellow nightclubbers and boxers. He is now working as a personal trainer, bodyguard, gardener, and electrician.
He stated that the bouncer, the man who worked at the gym, had died. He was Colin Webster and he died due to Covid.
"I gave a lot of tickets to Sean who is still working at the Amateur Club now and he can distribute them among the boys, some amateurs."
Joshua, 31, is dedicated to his noble art and uneasy about the hot air around it.
He stated that he was looking forward to returning to training next week because he feels like a Zen-like being in the spiritual realm when he's in training.
"I'm fit, I'm healthy, I'm looking after my body. It's nice to train when you don't feel pressure.
"Everyone trains. People run on the streets, and people also do triathlons or marathons. For me, it's just a matter of going to the gym and lifting heavy bags.
It's really enjoyable when I train without any commitments.
He describes the solitude at the Covid lockdown as the "best time of my entire life".
Joshua stated, "I used to live a certain lifestyle. Then I discovered boxing and everything changed so fast.
"Then, during Covid I was able to poke my head out and feel like, 'Ah! Back to normal again.
"So, I was out on scooters, motorbikes, it was just an amazing blessing to have that time." It was nice to be normal as possible, the sun shining in the garden.
Joshua insists that he wants Tyson Fury to fight him for the world title, but it is evident that he doesn't enjoy the hype surrounding it as much as the Gypsy King.
Joshua was in training for Fury before a US court ordered Joshua to finish his trilogy with Deontay wilder. The contest will be held in Las Vegas on Oct 9.
Fury is a social media shill, but Joshua finds it boring.
He stated that he enjoyed talking to media people and then seeing the quotes you have put out makes me wonder "Why did I say that?"
"I don’t mind talking about Fury, but it’s the little snippets of information that I get -- like 'Joshua claims he’ll knock out Fury'. He won't knock me out, but I don't think so.
"But we will sell a stadium when he returns here."
Joshua slammed the lack of funding during the pandemic, after he had seen Tottenham's "phenomenal new home" and declared himself "buzzing" for the fight-night atmosphere.
He stated, "The size of this just shows how boxing is and what potential it has.
It has huge potential, but it needs stars to continue to shine. We need to invest in amateur code.
"When the Pandemic was over, there wasn't enough funding to support amateur clubs. We had to raise funds to keep the lights on at the boxing gyms.
"The two heavyweight world champions are from this city, one Manchester and the other London. We are from amateur boxing gyms, and we rule the world of boxing. But no one ever gives us a chance to look in."
This man does not forget his roots.
