Entertainment
How Joshua Turned £15,000 First Pay To £500 Million Career Earnings

In the world of boxing, tales of rags-to-riches journeys often captivate audiences, but few stories rival the meteoric rise of Anthony Joshua. From his humble beginnings in the ring, marked by a meager £15,000 payday for his inaugural professional bout, to his staggering career earnings totaling £500,140,000, Joshua’s journey is a testament to unwavering resilience, unyielding dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, PETER AKINBO writes.
Before the glitz and glamor of the professional circuit, Joshua honed his craft in amateur boxing, amassing accolades and acclaim that foreshadowed his future dominance.
With an impeccable amateur record and a 2012 Olympic gold medal adorning his chest, Joshua transitioned seamlessly into the professional ranks, signaling the dawn of a new era in heavyweight boxing.
Emanuele Leo was his first opponent in the pros and he was quickly secured his first pro paycheck by knocking Leo out in the first round at the 02 Arena pocketing £15,000 for the bout.
Joshua went on to earn £50,000 in his next two fights which he won by knockouts against Paul Butlin and Hrvoje Kisicek. He followed that up with a £75,000 pay-day against Dorian Darch who also fell victim to Joshua’s knockout power.
His first million-pound purse would wait till his 8th professional bout against Konstantin Airich who he also dispatched by TKO and bagged a £1m purse. Joshua steadily climbed the ranks, each triumph contributing to his burgeoning reputation and financial standing.
Joshua’s ambition had always set him apart from his peers. In a candid interview dating back to April 2017, Joshua spoke of his aspirations to not only conquer the boxing world but to transcend it, aiming to become the sport’s first billionaire.
“When I first started, the aim was to become a multi-millionaire,” Joshua said.
“But now there are ordinary people, grandmas and granddads, who are worth millions just because of property prices. So the new school of thought is that I need to be a billionaire.”
Joshua went on to earn £1m from four other fights and £2m from wins over Kevin Johnson and Gary Cornish before a £3m purse for his win over Dillian Whyte and a total of £14.5m from his next three bouts.
However, it was his resounding victory over Wladimir Klitschko in the same month that catapulted Joshua into boxing stardom. Not only did the win secure his status as a heavyweight champion, but it also significantly boosted his earnings, with a staggering £15m purse attached to the fight.
His rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., which saw him reclaim his titles from the American who handed him his first loss, brought in a monumental £66m payday, a testament to his enduring appeal and drawing power.
Joshua’s highest purse from a bout was made in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk which he lost by split decision. In the first bout, Joshua earned £20m and in the rematch in Saudi Arabia, the two-time heavyweight champion bagged a whopping sum of £70m.
Undeterred by setbacks, such as his defeats to Usyk, Joshua showcased his resilience by bouncing back with triumphant victories in his next four fights which saw him earn a total of £86 with the biggest pay coming from his most recent fight against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia where he pocketed £40m.
Each victory not only added to his legacy in the ring but also swelled his bank balance, underscoring his status as one of boxing’s most bankable stars.
Looking ahead, Joshua’s sights are set firmly on the horizon, his appetite for success as voracious as ever. With a record of 28-3-0 (25 KOs), the 34-year-old now has his sights set on becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.
Entertainment
Sad! Dolly Parton’s husband Carl Dean is dead

Carl Dean, the longtime husband of country music star, Dolly Parton, died on Monday at the age of 82.
Dean, who was famously private throughout his nearly 60-year marriage to Parton, died in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a statement she posted on social media.
Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” the statement read.
Two years later, on May 30, 1966, the couple exchanged vows at a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.
Throughout their marriage, Dean remained out of the public eye, choosing instead to focus on his asphalt-paving business in Nashville.
Though he largely stayed out of the limelight, Dean continued to influence Parton’s work, most notably inspiring her classic hit “Jolene.”
She told US media in 2008 that the song was about a bank teller who developed a crush on Dean. “She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton said. ”
And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us—when I was saying, hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money. So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
Parton and Dean’s relationship remained such a mystery that rumours started that he did not exist – but Parton joked about that.
“A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me,” she said to the Associated Press in 1984.
Parton and Dean had no children together.
He is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie, Parton’s statement said.
Entertainment
Mohbad’s ally, Spending queries wife Wunmi for hiding vital details of cause of his death

A close friend of the late singer Mohbad, known as Spending, has made shocking allegations against the artist’s wife, Wunmi, questioning her role in the events leading to his tragic passing.
In a series of Instagram story posts, Spending claimed that Wunmi misrepresented Mohbad’s final moments and engaged in actions that raised suspicions.
Recounting the incident of September 10, 2023, Spending revealed that after Primeboy left Mohbad’s team, only a few individuals were present in the car heading home—Wunmi, Mohbad, their child Liam, Darosha, OG (the driver), and himself.
According to Spending, Wunmi engaged in a heated argument with Mohbad, physically dragging his clothes despite his injuries from a prior performance.
“You kept screaming and cursing Mohbad. Even Darosha tried to intervene. Your argument escalated to the point where you threatened to end Mohbad’s career, just like Lil Frosh’s career was ended by his girlfriend,” he alleged.
Spending also refuted Wunmi’s claims that she provided first aid to Mohbad after they got home. Instead, he stated that it was Bami, another friend, who bought and applied the necessary treatment to Mohbad’s wounds.
He revealed that at 11 a.m. the following day, Mohbad requested a nurse, as his regular one was unavailable. However, after leaving the house, Spending was later shocked to hear that Mohbad had died.
“The last time I saw Mohbad alive was around 11 a.m. on Monday. The next thing I heard was that he had passed away. I saw his lifeless body outside a hospital in Osapa London. It was shocking and unbelievable,” he recounted.
In a particularly startling claim, Spending questioned why Wunmi threw a white item on Mohbad’s coffin, asking if it had any significance.
“You claimed to be protecting him, but why didn’t you protect him when he was alive and needed help?” he asked.
Spending further accused Wunmi of inconsistencies in her statements, including:
Her conflicting accounts about the nurse’s visit.
Her denial of being present when Mohbad received his third injection.
“Wunmi, why are you going around with all these false narratives? There is nothing wrong with speaking out, but only if you are being honest,” he concluded.
These allegations have further intensified public scrutiny surrounding Mohbad’s sudden and mysterious death, with fans and family members continuing to demand justice.
Entertainment
Burna Boy opens up over “you didn’t buy me Lambo saga’

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy has broken his silence after socialite Sophia Egbueje allegedly called him out over an unfulfilled promise involving a Lamborghini.
The controversy, which recently gained traction on social media, began when Egbueje allegedly accused Burna Boy of failing to deliver on a promise to buy her a luxury car following an encounter.
In a leaked audio recording, she claimed Burna Boy made several commitments, including purchasing a Lamborghini for her, which influenced her decision to engage with him.
However, she alleged that after their encounter, the singer became unresponsive and did not fulfill his promises.
As the revelations sparked discussions online, various public figures and media personalities weighed in on the unfolding drama.
Burna Boy, in a video post, seemingly addressed the issue on social media.
While he did not outrightly deny Egbueje’s claims, he appeared to throw subtle shades in a video.
In the clip, the ‘Bundle by Bundle’ crooner was seen composing a mockery song about the situation, suggesting a fuss over the Lamborghini.
He could be heard saying, “If you no get me, forget about it. I no buy you Lambo, is that why you are shouting. Where dem dey. I no dey see them at all.”
The video has since fueled further reactions, with fans and critics sharing their opinions on the controversy.
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