No matter how famous or successful we become, our bond with our mothers remains intact. The same is true for the brutal sport of boxing. The immense hurdles and rigorous training hours carves fine boxers – boxers who make it to the top, owning to strong foundations laid by their mothers. In this feature, we share a few highlights of the unique bond shared by current boxing champion Anthony Joshua and his 51-year-old mother Yeta Odusanya. Their sacred relationship has been away from the public eye and came into limelight in a form of a short documentary before Joshua’s brawl with rival Klitschko.
Yeti Odusanya Raises A Champion
On this Mother’s day we talk about the proud mother of undisputed king of boxing realm, Anthony Joshua. In a rare interview before her son’s fight with Wladimir Klitschko, she called her son a “blessing.” 51-year-old mother of the crowned boxing king said that she was quite surprised when one of Joshua’s trainers told her that one day he would become a top boxer. Yeta Odusanya beamed with pride as she mentioned that her son was not only a source of inspiration for younger generation but in fact a living example for the whole family.
In a documentary film “The Fight Of My Life” which was shot before Joshua’s career-changing fight between the current champion and Klitschko, Yeta disclosed that she had only attended two of her son’s fights because it was quite difficult for her to see her son fight.
Yeta and Joshua’s family arranged a small surprise party for him before his big fight. His mother gifted her emotional son with a glove-shaped cake and cards to show her immense love for him. The footage focuses on Joshua’s low-key profile life outside the ring rather than glamourizing on his larger-than-life performances. The camera catches Joshua’s overwhelming emotions as he is taken by surprise during his gym training after receiving a cake from his beloved mother. Joshua’s family wishes him good-luck 12 days prior the phenomenal clash, which he won. Anthony’s mother states that her son is a blessing for the family; an inspiration to which both young and old can look up to.
A Bond That Stood The Test Of Time
The young prodigy shares a strong bond with his mother. However, both have kept their relationship away from the public eye. Following his win against Klitschko, AJ opted to live with his mum in North London despite winning a purse of 15 million pounds. In the documentary, Joshua says that despite his mother’s inability to understand boxing, she is supportive of her son’s passion for the sport.
The short film sees Joshua spending quality time with his family at his surprise party. Yeta showers her love for her son by saying “We love you very much and we’re proud of you” hugging her son tightly.
Anthony confessed being too stressed about the fight. He said that he was in a mental battle and the beautiful surprise from his mother helped calm his overworked nerves. Anthony expressed his fears that often haunted him prior to his big performance. However, he was coping up well, focusing on his performance and shape.
The touching film revealed Joshua’s desire to enjoy a common man’s life. In the film Joshua says ‘I don’t want to be a boxer that’s so detached from the public that people think ”yeah he’s good, but I don’t think I can achieve that.” I want people to feel like they can achieve it, because “he’s still a local kid he’s still a local boy. If I pop to Finchley I know I can bump into him and get ten minutes of his time, some advice.” ‘
