Anthony Joshua insists spell at Nigerian boarding school taught him valuable lessons in discipline

IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says a spell at a boarding school in Nigeria taught him some valuable lessons in discipline.

The 27-year-old, whose full name is Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, was born in Watford but boasts a proud African heritage.

And, long before the boxer took the first step towards stardom by winning a gold medal at London 2012, he spent six months in Nigeria with his mother Yeta.

Joshua, who was 11 at the time, expected his stay in the West African nation to be a permanent one but later returned to the UK with his family and insists the experience was a positive one.

"I thought I was going there [Nigeria] on holiday," Joshua told Press Association Sport. "I wasn't prepared for it. It was a boarding school as well.

"At the time you think 'Why?', but as you get older you think it was good that you experienced it. It was good for me.

"I think my mum was trying to do some business there; maybe she had it in her mind. You don't just randomly decide to move there.

"She might have been thinking about it, but didn't inform us because we were kids. We stayed out there - not long - only six months.

"It was a change and I thought I was going to go for the full course: 5.30am in the morning, up fetch your water, put like an iron in your water to warm it up. Your clothes had to be washed and ironed.

"It wasn't an issue but I wasn't prepared. It was a good discipline," Joshua added.

Meanwhile, Joshua's discipline and dedication in regards to Queensberry rules have taken him to the pinnacle of boxing in just 18 professional bouts.

Joshua is set to to fight Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley next month and has an opportunity to secure the WBA titl, plus superstar status, with victory over the Ukrainian.

90,000 fans are set to be in attendance but the British fighter has promised not to be overawed by the occasion, which he is convinced could define his entire career.