Anthony Joshua: Heavyweight IBF champion claims his 'addiction' could have ruined career

Boxing heavyweight IBF world champion Anthony Joshua has claimed that he had to give up playing the popular game Fifa 16 as it was interfering and affecting his training regime and almost put his career in jeopardy. The 26-year-old is a huge fan of the EA Sports game, even attending the game's unveiling in London last year.

The Watford born boxer became the new heavyweight IBF champion on 9 April when he knocked out his opponent America's Charles Martin in just two rounds. This fight was only the 16<sup>th of Joshua's career, and the boxer is already planning to dominate the sport for the next 10 years.

In fact, Joshua has stated that all this would not have happened if he did not give up playing his favourite game on the Playstation. "I used to play Fifa until it affected my boxing. I had to stop playing [Fifa 16] because it affected my sleep and recovery", he was quoted as saying by the Telegraph.

"I could stay up until five in the morning playing it, get up at seven and train. That's how mad it was, it wasn't healthy. Even then it was always sports."

Joshua is now eager to take on fellow Brit Tyson Fury – with a fight on the cards – as both boxers seem eager to set the record straight.

"I want to be the kingpin of the division. Trust me, I am going to get better and mess them all-up. I don't mind where me and Fury fight. It should be within a year, or even this year, though. Time's ticking," he claimed.