Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua feared a driving ban could derail his career as he made final preparations for his Wembley fight against Daniel Dubois.
The 34-year-old British-Nigerian boxer suffered a humbling defeat on Saturday, September 21, during the IBF heavyweight title contest, hitting the canvas four times before a knockout blow from Dubois in the fifth round.
It has since been revealed that just four days before the fight, Joshua had pleaded guilty to a speeding charge and was worried about losing his driving licence.
He attributed the offence to “physical and mental fatigue” from an intense training camp and explained to the court that driving was essential for him to access remote training locations.
Ultimately, Joshua was ordered to pay £1,167 and did not receive a driving ban, though he may not have known the sentence before stepping into the ring with Dubois.
As a two-time heavyweight champion, Joshua was the favourite going into the match but was outclassed and succumbed to a fifth-round blow to the chin.
Court documents show Joshua was pulled over by a Sussex Police officer just after 9pm on May 29 on the A26 in Lewes. His Range Rover Vogue was caught travelling at 44mph in a 30mph zone.
PC Benjamin Dean informed Hastings Magistrates Court that Joshua already had three penalty points from a previous speeding offence.
Joshua received a prosecution notice at his £1.3 million North London home and pleaded guilty online on September 17, with his case handled via the Single Justice Procedure.
In his letter of mitigation, Joshua offered “sincere apologies” for the speeding offence, acknowledging the importance of road safety and taking full responsibility for his actions. He explained that his judgment had been clouded by the physical and mental exhaustion from his demanding training schedule.
While not justifying his actions, Joshua assured the court that he had since been more mindful of his speed and traffic laws.
The Olympic gold medalist and OBE recipient has previously spoken about maintaining discipline, including a self-imposed sex ban during training camps. Despite his defeat to Dubois—his fourth career loss in 32 bouts—Joshua has vowed to continue his boxing career.
Joshua expressed concern about the potential impact of a driving ban on his career, explaining that he relies heavily on his ability to drive to and from training sessions, which are often in hard-to-reach locations.
He concluded by sincerely apologising for the offence and committing to being a more responsible driver in the future, as well as undertaking any course the court deemed necessary.
UK Magistrate Rosalyn Hayles sentenced Joshua to a £769 fine, £90 costs, and a £308 victim surcharge. He also received four additional penalty points, bringing his total to seven.
