Anthony Joshua Wins Historic Gold Medal In Boxing On Final Day Of London Olympics 2012

Giant Joshua Is King Of The Ring
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A new British boxing hero has been born in the shape of Olympic super-heavyweight gold medal winner Anthony Joshua who triumphed in the ring on Sunday.

Joshua won on a countback against Italy's Roberto Cammarelle after judges scored the fight a draw at 18 points each.

The decision was appealed by the Italians, but after a tense few moments, Joshua was confirmed as victor.

Joshua, a 6’6” giant of a fighter, weighing in at almost 17stone, beat Cammarelle, 32, in a brutal exchange over three rounds.

The 22-year-old Londoner is now tipped to become one of Team GB’s rare multi-million pound superstars.

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Anthony Joshua batters Italian Roberto Cammarelle in a brutal final

Afterward Joshua told the BBC: "Once again I pulled it out of the bag. My heart is still pumping with adrenalin. I’ve got the heart of a warrior. One thing is never give up.

“Sunday is a holy day and I was blessed. That medal represents my journey. It’s more than a gold medal. I’m proud to have it round my neck."

He lost the first round 6-5 after both fighters threw massive punches at each other.

The Italian’s lead continued into the second round, which finished 13-10 despite Joshua landing some heavy punches.

Joshua turned his life around after being arrested and suspended from the British boxing squad.

But that’s all history now as he joins Audley Harrison as one of the only Britons to have won the Olympic super-heavyweight title. Harrison won in Sydney in 2000 and Lennox Lewis won it in Seoul in 1988 but he fought for Canada.

The final day of the London 2012 games had given GB the chance to stretch to an historic 30 golds.

Earlier, Freddie Evans failed in his bid to win a 29th gold medal for Team GB after being out-classed in the boxing welter-weight final.

But the 21-year-old managed to add to the medal haul with a silver in a hard bout at the Excel centre.

Welshman Evans just couldn’t out think the number two seeded winner, Kazakhstan's Serik Sapiyev.

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Freddie Evans finished with a silver medal after a tough final fight

He didn’t get off to a fantastic start after he lost the first round 4-2 on points. He hardly threw a punch in the final minute while Sapiyev fired in punch after punch.

The second round stretched the Kazakh’s lead. Every punch landed by Evans was cheered by the crowd they knew he’d not done enough.

Judges scored the fight 17-9 to Sapiyev. Afterwards Evans said: “He was sharper today and obviously he came out on top. I’m still young so I’ve done well and I'm over the moon getting to the final.”

Olympics Day 16
Roberto Cammarelle, Anthony Joshua(01 of29)
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Italy's Roberto Cammarelle, right, fights Britain's Anthony Joshua in a super heavyweight over 91-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. Joshua won the gold medal and Cammarelle won the silver. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
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Gold medalist Anthony Joshua of Great Britain poses with his medal after the victory ceremony for the men's super heavyweight over 91-kg boxing medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (credit:AP)
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Britain's Anthony Joshua celebrates after wining the gold medal for the men's super heavyweight over 91-kg boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
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Britain's Anthony Joshua greets fans after beating Italy's Roberto Cammarelle for the gold medal in a super heavyweight over 91-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
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Britain's Anthony Joshua reacts after beating Italy's Roberto Cammarelle for the gold medal in a super heavyweight over 91-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
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Italy's Roberto Cammarelle, right, fights Britain's Anthony Joshua in a super heavyweight over 91-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. Joshua won the gold medal and Cammarelle won the silver. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Olympics Day 16 - Athletics(07 of29)
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Mark Kenneally of Ireland approaches the finish line in the Men's Marathon on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at The Mall on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(From L) Kenya's Wilson Kipsang Kiprotic(08 of29)
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(From L) Kenya's Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich and Kenya's Abel Kirui run in the athletics event men's marathon during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London. (Photo credit: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Olympics Day 16 - Around the Games(09 of29)
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Gold medalist Mohamed Farah of Great Britain poses with his medals for the 10,000m and 5000m as he attends a TEAM GB Press Conference during Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Team GB house on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Olympics Day 16 - Boxing(10 of29)
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Vasyl Lomachenko (R) of Ukraine celebrates as the referee announces him the winner over Soonchul Han (L) of Korea during the Men's Light (60kg) Boxing final bout on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Freddie Evans of Great Britain (in red) (11 of29)
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Freddie Evans of Great Britain (in red) defends against Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan (in blue) during the gold medal Welterweight (69kg) boxing final of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the ExCel Arena August 12, 2012 in London. Sapiyev won gold on a 17-9 points decision. (Photo credit: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Portugal's Luis Feiteira reacts after cr(12 of29)
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Portugal's Luis Feiteira reacts after crossing the finish line of the athletics event men's marathon during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London. (Photo credit: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Vladimir Gojkovic of Montenegro (L) is c(13 of29)
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Vladimir Gojkovic of Montenegro (L) is challenged by Dusko Pijetlovic of Serbia during the men's water polo bronze medal match Montenegro vs Serbia at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London on August 12, 2012. (Photo credit: KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Nikola Janovic of Montenegro (L) looks o(14 of29)
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Nikola Janovic of Montenegro (L) looks on as Vanja Udovicic of Serbia throws the ball during the men's water polo bronze medal match Montenegro vs Serbia at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London on August 12, 2012. (Photo credit: ADEK BERRY/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Olympics Day 16 - Around the Games(15 of29)
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Gold medalist Mohamed Farah of Great Britain poses with his medals for the 10,000m and 5000m as he attends a TEAM GB Press Conference during Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Team GB house on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Athletes run past Buckingham Palace duri(16 of29)
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Athletes run past Buckingham Palace during the athletics event men's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London. (Photo credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Athletes run past Buckingham Palace duri(17 of29)
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Athletes run past Buckingham Palace during the athletics event men's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London. (Photo credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
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Kenya's Abel Kirui (L) and Ethiopia's Getu Feleke run past Buckingham Palace during the athletics event men's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London. (Photo credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GettyImages)
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Athletes run in front of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster during the men's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games, on August 12, 2012. (Photo credit: DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)
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Athletes run during the athletics event men's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London. (Photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/GettyImages)
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A spectator is detained by police officers outside Big Ben while athletes run during the men's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games, on August 12, 2012. (Photo credit: DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)
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US players pose with their gold medals after winning the London 2012 Olympic Games women's basketball competition at the North Greenwich Arena in London on August 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO /TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GettyImages)
London Olympic Games - Day 16(23 of29)
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Soldiers cycle past Big Ben ahead of the men's marathon which takes place on the streets of London. (credit:John Giles/PA Wire)
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Britain's Mhairi Spence, left, competes against Mexico's Tamara Vega, right, during the fencing portion of the women's modern pentathlon competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) (credit:AP)
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Sushil Kumar of India (in red) checks on his opponent, Ramazan Sahin of Turkey, (in blue) during their 66-kg freestyle wrestling match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (credit:AP)
London Olympic Games - Day 16(26 of29)
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Spectators gather beneath Big Ben ahead of the men's marathon which takes place on the streets of London. (credit:Dave Thompson/PA Wire)
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Montenegro's silver medalists celebrate after the women's gold medal handball match Norway vs Montenegro for the London 2012 Olympics Games on August 11, 2012 at the Basketball Arena in London. Norway's won 26-23. (Photo credit: CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/GettyImages)
Olympics Day 16 - Basketball(28 of29)
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Team mates attend to Victor Khryapa #10 of Russia after he hit the floor during the Men's Basketball bronze medal game between Russia and Argentina on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympics Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Argentinian players celebrate scoring ag(29 of29)
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Argentinian players celebrate scoring agianst Russia during the London 2012 Olympic Games men's bronze medal basketball game between the Argentina and Russia at the North Greenwich Arena in London on August 12, 2012. (Photo credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)