Anthony Joshua explains why he doesn’t want son to become boxer and names alternative job

Anthony Joshua is not keen for his son to enter the world of boxing.

The former two-time heavyweight world champion has an eight-year-old son Joseph Joshua – most commonly known as JJ.

Instagram – Anthony Joshua

Joshua is in no mood to thrust his son into fighting[/caption]

Boxing is a risky business but it has seen the British star build superstardom and secure his financial future.

But AJ has now interest in keeping his son in the family business, insisting he is better without lacing up his gloves.

 ‘I don’t think it’s a wise decision [to follow in my footsteps],” he said on Desert Island Discs.

“If I was to choose for him I’d ask him to probably look at accountancy because I think its good to understand numbers.

“So when you have that kind of insight you can now become an entrepreneur and invest in business. I want him to focus on business.

“He is cool. He gets it. I have always kept boxing out. So he gets that. He knows that I’m just dad.”

The former champion’s son would be old enough to spar at the age of nine, and be eligible to begin competing in the sport the following year.

But it is unlikely the Briton will let that happen, with focus being put elsewhere for now.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Joshua regularly keeps his family away from the limelight of the sport, which has seen him imposed under huge pressures under the brightest of lights.

The former Olympic gold medallist’s career has been overwhelmingly positive overall, and has seen him rise to the very pinnacle of the heavyweight division.

Lots of sons of famous fathers have gone on to fight in the sport, including Conor Benn – son of Nigel Benn – and Chris Eubank Jr – son of Chris Eubank.

And the 35-year-old believes the famous name would put a target on his son’s back from the get-go.

He said: “You have to be so strong, you have to be so strong mentally to be a boxer.

“I am not saying he won’t be mentally strong but I would not want to put him through that ­mental pressure.

“I am sure he could fight, he will definitely have the genes to do it.

“But the mental side, that goes unspoken about, I would not want him to go through that.

“Imagine ‘Anthony Joshua’s son is boxing’. There would be a target on his back straight away. Would I want to put him under that pressure? Probably not.

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