Anthony Joshua says Covid lockdowns stopped him having a breakdown

ANTHONY Joshua says Covid lockdowns stopped him having a breakdown.

The world heavyweight champ was grateful to take time off from training.

🔵 Read our coronavirus and green list announcement live blog for the latest updates

Joshua, who is closing in on a mega-fight with rival Tyson Fury, said: “I never want to say Covid has been a blessing as for 99 per cent of people it has been so life-changing and tough for people.

“But if there is a positive we got out of this negative it’s I feel like I was going to crash.

“There were times going into training camp I was thinking, ‘I don’t know if I am going to come out the other side of this. I am that ill, run-down’.

“We’re spending a lot of time promoting boxing and it’s hard.

“During the pandemic I was like, ‘Breathe. Take a second’ and I just looked around.”

AJ, 31, looks after fighters with his 258 management firm as well as co-parenting son Joseph, four.

The champ told footballer Troy Deeney’s podcast: “I try and make my son use his creativity. Whatever he wants to do I will always be there to catch him if he falls.

“I will never force him into anything. He is not a trophy kid.

“He will figure it out and if he doesn’t he has great people around him to ask advice from.”

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk