Sport

Anthony Joshua once thought Jay-Z was going to punch him at Will Smith premiere

More like Sock-a-fella records.

Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua might not seem like he receives a lot of threats. However, the two-time heavyweight champion recalled a time when he thought Jay-Z was going to smack him at a film premiere, the Daily Mail reported. The 31-year-old power puncher dropped the bombshell while talking to William Hill Boxing ahead of his championship bout this weekend.

“Jay-Z was cool,” the UK brawler described of the unexpected incident, which occurred back in 2013 while the two were at the premiere of an unspecified Will Smith movie.

Having grown up listening to the rap icon’s music — including hits such as “Hard Knock Life” and “Dead Presidents” — Joshua was stoked about the chance to meet his idol, he explained.

Anthony Joshua (right) with Drake.

“It was one of those big staircases and I was in the top left. And I saw Jay-Z walk in,” the pugilist said painting the scene.

“In my head, I was like: ‘Yo, there’s Jay-Z.’ Know what I mean? Ready to jump down the balcony,” recalled the star-struck fighter. “But I thought: ‘Play it cool.’ So I thought: ‘What way is he gonna come up these stairs?’ Because if I stand on the left and he goes on right, there’s too many people, it’s a premiere.”

Thankfully, the decorated boxer stood at the correct side of the staircase. When Hov walked up, he reportedly grabbed his wrist and asked, “Jay, do you mind if I get a picture?”

“And he kind of looked at my hand, yeah, like: ‘Boy, I will bust your head if you don’t get off my hand,’” the 2012 gold medalist recalled.

Joshua and Judi Dench.

Despite the kerfuffle, Joshua ended up getting his photo-op with the “Roc-a-fella Records” honcho. “It was just one of those things where I just gave the guy the camera, and in that picture — I think it’s one of the first pictures on my Instagram — Jay-Z has just got a plain face,” he fondly recounted. “And there’s me with a big smile.”

Joshua will defend his heavyweight belts against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk this Saturday in London with the hopes that a win would will earn him a shot at the winner of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III, Sky Sports reported.

Joshua and Tom Hanks.

Related Posts

Adorable photos from Angel Reese’s vacation in Jamaica with her boyfriend have been viral shared.

The LSU star confirmed her relationship with Fletcher during a podcast appearance in June Angel Reese is soaking up the sun with her boyfriend Cam’Ron Fletcher this summer. The LSU Tigers…

Russell Wilson writes a heartfelt message to his and Ciara’s daughter for her birthday.

Ciara and Russell Wilson’s daughter, Sienna Wilson, is 4-years-old! The youngster was showered with love and affection on her birthday that spilled over into a beautiful message Russell…

McGregor Weighs In: Is It Time for Anthony Joshua to Retire After Crushing Defeat to Dubois?

Conor McGregor believes Anthony Joshua should keep fighting even after the devastating loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday night, AJ was stopped four times; the…

Ciara and Russell Wilson’s children make a charming debut on the runway.

Russell Wilson, Ciara and their band of impossibly adorable children just strutted their stuff—or should we say 1, 2 stepped?—down the runway for their big modeling debut. The NFL quarterback…

Stunning Video Shows Joshua Taunting Fan Just Moments Before Dubois Knocks Him Out Cold!

On Saturday night, Daniel Dubois stunned Anthony Joshua and the 96,000 spectators inside Wembley Arena with a knockout blow in the fifth round. After being knocked out three…

Caught on Video: Tyson Fury’s Savage X-Rated Attack on Anthony Joshua After Dubois KO!

After witnessing Anthony Joshua be knocked down by Daniel Dubois’s vicious right hand punch, Tyson Fury lost control of himself. Observing the fight from ringside at Wembley, Fury…