Anthony Joshua has said he would rather be remembered for his “character” than simply his victories in the boxing ring.
The world heavyweight champion, 31, said he does not want his legacy to be only about his sporting achievements as he spoke of the importance of helping “others in need”.
“If you look back at the great boxers, like Muhammad Ali, there is not much people can remember about their fights but they can probably remember their characters,” he told ES Magazine.
“Ultimately, no one is going to remember everything about my boxing unless they are a hardcore fan; my legacy should be about the type of character I am.”
Joshua, who lives with his mother Yeta Odusanya in north London, spoke of the value of family and community as he vowed to “fight” for his community, the environment and Black Lives Matter.
“We need a conscious effort to come together and to fight for positive change and we should keep up that fight as a community,” he said.
“It is our duty to help others in need and if you can do that, the world will be a better place. Things are only going to get better. People are passing their intelligence down to the next generation.”
“Not many sports people come from political backgrounds but they are voices of the community. I will fight for Black Lives Matter and for a better ecosystem,” he said.
Joshua currently holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts in his division and is first British heavyweight to win both an Olympic gold medal and a world title.
He is expected to take on boxing “bad boy” Tyson Fury later this year to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.