The Brit had a troubled upbringing before establishing himself as one of the best boxers in the country.

During an interview with Louis Theroux, Joshua has now shed light on his early years.

He claims he was wearing Team GB colours when he was stopped in north London with eight ounces of cannabis back in 2011 – and also says the authorities pulled him over because he was ‘big and black’.

Anthony Joshua feared he wouldn’t be able to do boxing for Team GB after his cannabis ordeal.

Joshua also provided details of his time in prison, too, and how it helped shape him into a superstar.

He said: “It wasn’t meant for me to be a champion.

“I was in Reading [prison] in 2009. In 2011 I was stopped while I was in the Olympics team. I started smoking more as time went on.

“[The eight ounces] looks like a whole heap of cash.

“When you’re big and black you could be doing 20mph and it’s ‘You’re speeding’. It is what it is. Wrong complexion and wrong connection.

​”It’s part of the game.”

When asked what he told police upon being pulled over, Joshua added: “I said, “I represent you. Come on, me?'”

Joshua nearly lost his place in the Olympics team and is grateful trainer and mentor Rob McCracken fought his corner.

“The Olympic committee, I really honour them,” he continued.

“I got kicked off the committee at the time because of the case. I started smoking again.

“Sean [Murphy] from my gym called my mum and said get your son back in the gym, he’s got talent.

“About six months later [trainer] Rob McCracken backed me and said, “let him back in the gym, he’ll sort his life out. Trust me.”

Another person Joshua is grateful to is his mother, Yeta Odusanya.

The 34-year-old still lives with her and says he loves supporting Odusanya because of everything she’s been through.

“I still live with my mum,” the two-time world champion explained.

“In our culture, we grew up in our own family home, we support our parents.

“Why am I going to move out and leave my mum by herself, for some girl?

“Family is the most important thing.

“When a girl gets with me, she ain’t just marrying me, she’s marrying my family.’

He continued: “Are we going to dissect everything I say and use it as a narrative to create a story?

“That’s why I keep myself to myself.

“You put all this pressure on yourself to come and be this big star and be perfect.

“I’m telling you, they’ll pull you down. The higher you are, the bigger the drop.”