Anthony Joshua and his father

By Oluwole Coker

Mr Robert Oluwafemi Olaseni. The typical Nigerian father who never gave up on his son. Like every good Nigerian father he gave his boy the best education and enrolled him in one of Nigeria’s Ivy secondary schools Mayflower Ikenne owned by the late patriot – Pa Tai Solarin. After his marriage broke down with Joshua’s mother, Joshua moved to England. 

Joshua was a bright kid and an athlete but he lost his way and ended up a bricklayer. His father was embarrassed but did not give up on him, knowing the dream he had for his son, he supported him when he took up boxing. In 2009, Joshua became even more frustrated and lost his way again. He became a street fighter and was detained by the police and put on remand. 

He was reduced to the level of a low life common criminal and had to wear an electronic tag around his ankle like a terrorist after his release. His father was upset with him but kept believing in him. In March 2011, the year Jonathan became President of Nigeria, Joshua was pulled over by the police for over speeding in Colindale, North London. 

He was found with eight ounces of Indian Hemp hidden in a sports bag in his Mercedes-Benz. He was charged with possession with intent to supply a class B drug. The offence carried a 14 year jail sentence. He pleaded guilty and the court handed him a 12 month community order. Joshua lost his place in the GB boxing squad and had to do 100 hrs of community work unpaid. 

His father pulled his ears and spoke some hard truth into his head but he remained faithful and kept praying for his son. Today Anthony Joshua looks back and says he would never have made it without his father’s strict love. In June 2019 on the night he lost to Ruiz, his father was so upset with Hearn, Joshua’s promoter he almost beat the man up in the ring after the fight, trust a good Nigerian father. 

Afterwards, he turned to his son and whispered into his ears “you fought like a Lion tonight but next time fight smart like a Fox”. Joshua took his advice. This is father and son together on the night Joshua fought like a Fox to beat Ruiz and became King once again. Congratulations to every Nigerian Father for the strict and tough love you put on your children.

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