Anthony Joshua is widely regarded as one of the country’s most well-known sporting heroes.
During his heyday, Joshua made Wembley Stadium sell-outs the norm on a journey which took him to world heavyweight glory and global superstardom.
Given the 34-year-old’s status as one of the most recognisable boxers on the planet, there’s no surprise that a man who looks almost identical to him is getting mistaken for the heavyweight boxer.
Iffy Onwuachu wasn’t even aware who ‘AJ’ was never mind the resemblance until he was made aware in the toilet at a party.
“The first time I was told I looked like the successful boxer was around 2016 when he won the British and Commonwealth titles,” Onwuachu said to the Daily Mail.
“I was at a party in Kingston in London and I was in the toilet of the club. A random guy came up to me and asked if I was actually him.
“At this point, I didn’t have a clue who Anthony Joshua was, so I asked to see a picture of him and I thought surely not… I didn’t think we looked similar at all.
“A couple more guys in the toilet overheard and started agreeing. I was just confused at this point, but flattered none-the-less.”
Joshua’s success and popularity skyrocketed soon after this point when he became world heavyweight champion later that year, after a brutal second round knockout of Charles Martin.
Major Wembley Stadium sell-out shows followed and such was the buzz surrounding the Watford man, Onwuachu received some adulation himself.
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“One of the funniest occasions was working at a bar at Goodwood Festival and a crowd of people I was serving thought I was him and started chanting, ‘Ohh Anthony Joshua.’
“Another time I was going for my regular evening run and a man jogging quite far behind me started shouting ‘Joshua,’ ‘Josh.’
“I thought I was hearing stuff but I turned around and he was hailing me down to stop.
“I stopped and waited for him to catch up and he was so happy to see me and he was giving me accolades.
“He said he was a huge fan and asked if he could run with me on my route. We stopped a few times because he wanted to get a picture that wasn’t blurry and he posted the picture on his Facebook page while also recording the run we had.
“I was amazed at the fact that he actually thought I was Anthony Joshua – it was hilarious! He asked me about my training routines and asked if I was ready for my next fight [against Alexander Povetkin].”
Onwuachu, who is the co-owner of The Brunch House Events was being mistaken for the boxer so much so that not only did he stop correcting observers, but he went one step further and posed as Joshua’s double in adverts.
“I just kept going along with the whole thing because by this point.
“I was in too deep pretending I was actually him and didn’t want to disappoint the guy. Bless him, I felt bad. Sorry if you’re reading this mate!
“I signed up to Susan Scott lookalikes in February 2019 and have since starred in some commercials and a photoshoot for The Times Magazine Rich List as Anthony Joshua’s body double.
“My latest job was being a double in the new Lynx ‘deliver the chill’ commercial with Tinie Tempah, which were both pretty amazing! I’m excited for the next year and what it holds.”
Joshua is currently training for his first fight at Wembley Stadium in six years when he challenges Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight world title on September 21.
Victory for ‘AJ’ would see the Watford man become a three-time heavyweight champion and set him up for a shot at the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21.
