Pro boxer Anthony Joshua has maintained a notably private stance regarding his romantic life. The former two-time heavyweight champion shares a son, Joseph “JJ” Joshua, born in 2015 with dance teacher Nicole Osbourne, yet he has never been publicly photographed with her.
“I’ve had girlfriends,” Joshua revealed to documentarian Louis Theroux in 2023. “I could meet them in the local supermarket or at the petrol station, anywhere.” Despite his reluctance to discuss his dating history, rumors have linked him to high-profile figures like Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, and Maya Jama throughout his boxing career.
According to reports, Joshua met Osbourne while attending school in Watford. Their relationship was characterized by ups and downs, culminating in the birth of their son at Watford General Hospital in October 2015. Interestingly, Joshua did not publicly acknowledge his son’s birth until April 2016, following a victory over Charles Martin at the O2 Arena in London.
“Achieved one of my goals as a professional boxer! Now the dust has settled it’s time to relax with my lil champ JJ,” he tweeted alongside a photo of his son. Although Joshua and Osbourne separated around the time of JJ's birth, they reportedly lived together for a period in Finchley, North London.
In a 2018 interview with GQ, Joshua expressed his desire for his son to pursue a different path. “It’s too hard. It’s a dangerous sport,” he stated. “I want my son to be the best man that he can be, but I don’t want him to be compared to me.” He emphasized the challenges of boxing, noting that “life is not a highlight reel.”
As he prepared for a fight against Jake Paul in December 2025, Joshua provided insight into his parenting approach. “I don’t really take boxing home,” he said at a press conference. “JJ hasn’t spoken about the fight. I talk to him about maths, the purpose of life.”
In 2017, boxer Amir Khan accused his wife, Faryal Makhdoom Khan, of having an affair with Joshua via Twitter. Joshua denied ever meeting Faryal and dismissed the allegations. Khan later recanted his claims, admitting they were unfounded and expressing regret for damaging his friendship with Joshua.
“Apology accepted,” Joshua responded after Khan acknowledged the falsehood of his accusations. The two have since reconciled after Khan's marriage ended in 2018.
Speculation about Joshua's romantic life intensified when he was seen with British TV host Maya Jama in August 2019. The sighting sparked reactions from Jama’s on-off boyfriend Stormzy, who posted a cryptic tweet that many interpreted as a response to the rumors.
Joshua clarified the situation during a press conference ahead of his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., stating that their interaction was merely professional. “So I took a little picture with one of my friends’, a musician, his ex, in the gym and it gets blown out of proportion,” he explained.
In 2020, British radio host Vick Hope shared a selfie with Joshua, leading to reports of them dating. However, Hope later downplayed any romantic connection after marrying DJ Calvin Harris in September 2023.
Joshua's flirtation with U.K. sports reporter Laura Woods gained attention during a 2023 interview when she asked about his dream date. “You!” he replied quickly, prompting laughter from both. Despite their chemistry, Woods later got engaged to Love Island star Adam Collard in September 2024.
Rumors also circulated regarding Joshua's connections with models Cara Delevingne and Bella Hadid after they were spotted together at events. However, Joshua refuted these claims during an interview with Louis Theroux in November 2023, stating, “I haven’t actually been with any of those girls, by the way.”
