From Wolverhampton gym to the top of the world with Anthony Joshua

The 30-year-old delivered a masterclass to beat Andy Ruiz Jr and win back the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles lost in shocking fashion just six months previously.

Joshua’s performance was one to silence the doubters and inject new life into a career many were ready to write off.

Watching intently from his corner was Joby Clayton, the Wolverhampton boxing coach who was among those that helped to mastermind it.

For the past three months Clayton, who runs the Firewalker club, in Salisbury Street, has been part of Joshua’s coaching set-up.

“It has simply been an immense honour,” said Clayton, now back in the UK and with time to reflect on the experience. “Simply being asked to impart some of my philosophy was special. It was an opportunity I could not turn down.”

It would be an exaggeration to claim Clayton was plucked from obscurity. A coach with more than two decades worth of experience, he helped Stourbridge cruiserweight Rob Norton claim the WBU title in 1999.

But there had been nothing on this level and even Clayton admits Joshua made a “bold move” by asking him to come on board.

“I am not a baby in the sport, far from it,” he says. “But neither am I a recognised problem fixer. I am not a big name.

“No doubt it will have surprised a few people. I think AJ showed a lot of courage in his decision-making.”

Joshua and Clayton had actually been conversing on-and-off for around two years, the fighter first having become aware of the coach through Ben Whittaker. The Darlaston light-heavyweight, a major prospect and Tokyo 2020 hopeful, is trained by Clayton but has also worked alongside Joshua at the Sheffield Institute of Sport.

“It was because of Ben we first started talking,” explains Clayton. “We’d had a few conversations about my philosophy. Then he got in contact seriously soon after the Ruiz defeat and asked if we could do a few sessions.

“I think he was looking for something a bit different and I travelled down to his gym in Finchley a few times.

“He seemed to enjoy the sessions and it was after that I was offered the chance to be part of the camp for the second Ruiz fight.”

Clayton and Angel Fernandez, who trains a number of British cruiserweights including Isaac Chamberlain, were both added as assistant coaches. That allowed Rob McCracken, Joshua’s long-term head coach, to take a more overarching view.

“Obviously, the dynamic is never going to be straightforward when there are three coaches,” admits Clayton. “I think it is fair to say a lot of people were sceptical about whether it would work. Hopefully, they got their answer on Saturday night.”

The significance of the fight to Joshua’s career cannot be downplayed. His defeat to Ruiz was among the most stunning in the history of the sport, with the previously undefeated man knocked down on four occasions.

Defeat in the rematch would have left his long-term dream of unifying the heavyweight division in tatters. Pretty much everything was on the line.

But far from finding a fighter wilting under the pressure, Clayton found one eager to learn and willing to adapt.

“Anthony’s character is quite incredible,” he says. “To see first-hand the way he has transformed himself in the manner he has over the past few months really was inspiring.

“He has a big team behind him and we all had our say at certain times. The way he was able to put it all together and put on the performance. It was special.

“Frankly, I was amazed at how many people were writing him off, even those inside the boxing industry. After the Ruiz defeat they were saying he was over-hyped and I found that amazing.”

Though the outside world was full of doubters, inside the camp a quiet confidence was building as fight night approached.

“By the final week I was sure he was going to put in a tremendous performance,” says Clayton. “I remember speaking with other members of the team a couple of days before and everyone was saying how they could not wait for the first bell.”

Such belief proved well placed. Joshua was dominant from the first bell to the last, with a display very different to any seen previously in his 24-fight paid career.

“Everyone knew he was big and strong. Everyone knew he could punch hard,” adds Clayton.

“But to go and dominate the fight in the manner he did, without relying on either of those attributes. He showed a completely different side to his ability.”

Clayton, meanwhile, claims he had no trouble keeping his own emotions in check on what was a huge night.

“It was an amazing event but I did not let any of it touch me,” he says. “I did not read any newspapers beforehand and I did not get involved in any of the other things going on. I just went about my business. That is how I work.

“The event was spectacular, don’t get me wrong. But I can’t say I felt it at the time. I can’t even say I feel it now because I was so involved with what we were doing with AJ.”

For Joshua the path to blockbuster showdowns with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury is once more open. Whether Clayton will be involved along the way remains to be seen.

For now, it is back to the day job of training Whittaker and the rest of his fighters at Firewalker.

“I was contracted for three months and that has now ended,” he said. “I would like to think we were successful but we shall see what happens.

“Ultimately, it is enough for me to know I played a role in helping bring about this performance.

“From my point of view, AJ’s aim now must be to chase greatness. I really do think it is within his grasp.”