- Anthony Joshua was knocked out by Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday
- He was caught speeding in the run-up to the collision and blamed it on fatigue
- After writing a letter of mitigation, he was fined but avoided a driving ban
Anthony Joshua has escaped a driving ban after being caught speeding in the lead-up to his devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois on Saturday night.
Joshua failed in his quest to become a three-time heavyweight champion as he was stopped by his compatriot after just five rounds at Wembley Stadium.
Now it has emerged that he also had problems outside the ring in the run-up to the fight for the world title.
According to The StandardCourt documents show that Joshua was stopped by a Sussex police officer shortly after 9pm on May 29 after being caught driving 30mph in a 30mph zone while armed with a speed gun equipped with a speedometer.
Joshua pleaded guilty to the offence on September 17, just four days before he entered the ring, but blamed it on “physical and mental fatigue” from his “highly intensive training camp”.
Anthony Joshua was knocked out in five rounds by Daniel Dubois on Saturday night
Joshua pleaded guilty to speeding just four days before stepping into the ring with Dubois
AJ blamed his speeding on ‘physical and mental fatigue’ and avoided a driving ban
He told the Hastings court he had to drive to remote locations to box. He was fined £1,167 but escaped a ban. It is not known whether he knew what had happened to him before he stepped into the ring with Dubois.
Joshua’s letter of mitigation read: ‘I accept full responsibility for my actions on 29 May 2024 and deeply regret that I failed to adhere to the speed limits. I understand the importance of road safety and am fully aware of the potential consequences of speeding, not only for myself but also for other road users.
“My behavior that day was inexcusable and I take full responsibility for my mistake. However, I would like to provide some context regarding the situation, not as an excuse, but in the hope that the court will consider it in determining my sentence.
‘I am a professional athlete, currently in the midst of a very intense training camp. My schedule was extremely demanding and I was traveling to or from a training session at the time and date of the violation.
‘The physical and mental fatigue from my training may have clouded my judgment, leading to this lapse in concentration.
“I recognize that such circumstances do not justify speeding, and I deeply regret that I allowed myself to make this mistake. Since then, I have made a very conscious effort to be more mindful of my speed and have strictly adhered to all traffic laws.”
Joshua is now able to ride again and is licking his wounds after last Saturday’s humiliating defeat.
The 34-year-old was knocked down three times before being forced to the canvas for the fourth and final time in the fifth round after failing to withstand the referee’s 10-count.
Joshua has vowed to fight on and could immediately rematch Dubois
He is now considering his future but has stressed that he will not retire after his one-sided loss.
A direct rematch against Dubois is a possible option for the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, while another domestic showdown with Tyson Fury in 2025 is also a possibility.
Post Sport has contacted Joshua’s representatives for comment.