Anthony Joshua's rarely-seen son with ex-girlfriend Nicole Osbourne

Fans of the two-time former unified world heavyweight champion will be glued to their TV screens tonight as Anthony Joshua sits down with Louis Theroux for a tell-all on BBC Two at 9pm. He is known for being ranked as the world’s second-best active heavyweight by BoxRec as of October last year, but many might not know that Anthony Joshua, 34, is a father to a sweet eight-year-old son.

Ahead of his fight against Jermaine Franklin earlier this year, Anthony spoke to the press about his son’s relationship with his beloved sport. “He’s seven, he’s gonna be eight this year, so he’s definitely aware,” the boxer said. “I don’t think he cares! That’s the thing: I don’t think he has an interest like that. He obviously knows boxing; him and his cousins, they box now and again.”

Surprisingly, he stressed that for children, and even his own son, boxing isn’t everything. “I don’t think he’s at that age where… It’s interesting, right: I always look out when I’m in camp, and I see people going about their business. Boxing is so important in our lives, but it’s not important in everybody’s lives,” he explained.

Anthony revealed his feelings about his son JJ following in his footsteps and his feelings were clear – he isn’t keen to push little JJ into the sport. “I think it’s important to find it yourself,” Joshua stated. “I’d just say: ‘Don’t compete with me, be your own individual. Anything I’ve done in boxing is not for you to match; it’s for you to kind of find your own reasons.”

The boxer explained that the same would stand despite the help he could offer his son in getting into the sport. Anthony said candidly: “I think he’d have a good run at it, because of the experience I’ve got, so I’d be able to guide him. He’d have a headstart.”

In an exclusive interview with GQ with the sweetest photos, Anthony echoed his feelings on JJ being his own person. “I want my son to be the best man that he can be, but I don’t want him to be compared to me.”

In the same press interview, Anthony gave an insight into little JJ’s personality, and he’s a lot like his father. “He’s like me, though; when I lost, that’s how he is when he loses – we’re bad losers,” Anthony admitted. “Honestly he throws a big tantrum, but I like seeing that side of him, because it means he cares.”