As heavyweight boxing icon Anthony Joshua steps into the ring to face YouTube sensation Jake Paul this Friday, the spotlight once again extends beyond his athletic prowess to his closely guarded personal life. The bout, set for the Kaseya Center in Miami, will stream live on Netflix, with the main event expected around 3.30am UK time on Friday, December 19.
A Champion's Guarded Romantic History
Despite his global fame since winning Olympic gold in London 2012 and capturing multiple world titles, Anthony Joshua has fiercely protected his privacy. The 36-year-old remains unmarried but is a father to a son, Joseph "JJ" Joshua, whose mother is former performer and now yoga teacher Nicole Osbourne.
His romantic links have often made headlines, including rumoured relationships with supermodel Bella Hadid in 2017 and TV presenter Vick Hope around 2018. More recently, he has been connected to Moroccan model Samia Slimani after photos from a trip to Morocco surfaced online.
The Explosive Amir Khan Allegation and Fallout
The most dramatic intrusion into Joshua's personal affairs came from fellow British boxer Amir Khan. In a social media outburst, Khan publicly accused Joshua of having an affair with his wife, Faryal Makhdoom, claims Joshua has always vehemently denied.
Khan's incendiary posts included calling his wife a "Golddigger" and stating, "Mans like Joshua can have my leftovers!". The scandal severely damaged the pair's friendship, a fact Khan has since expressed profound regret over.
Speaking on The Overlap, Khan admitted he was "going through a bit of a mad time" and wrongly targeted Joshua. He explained the trigger was seeing a harmless message from Joshua saying "hi" to Makhdoom during a period when they were not communicating. "I lost a good friend through that," Khan conceded. "The guy did nothing wrong."
Focus Returns to the Ring in Miami
With the personal drama now in the past, Joshua's focus is entirely on his professional challenge in Miami. The fight against Jake Paul represents a major crossover event in the sport, pitting a former unified heavyweight world champion against a social media star turned professional boxer.
Joshua's decorated career includes victories over legends like Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker, and he holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles. This weekend's spectacle will test his skill against a new kind of opponent, all while his life outside the ropes continues to fascinate the public.
