Anthony Joshua‘s mother has given a rare interview about raising the heavyweight champion of the world, in which she calls her son ‘a blessing’.

The boxer’s mother Yeta Odusanya, 51, recalled her astonishment when one of Joshua’s early trainers told her that her son would one day be the champion of the world, and how she thought to herself: ‘What is he talking about?’

With visible pride, Yeta told how much he ‘inspires’ everyone in her family, not just the younger generation.

She appears in new documentary The Fight Of My Life, filmed ahead of her son’s career-changing fight against Wladimir Klitschko in April this year, in which she revealed she’s only attended two of his matches because she finds it ‘too emotional’ to watch Anthony’s punishing bouts.

The cameras followed Yeta as she surprised an emotional Anthony with a family party just days before the big fight, to demonstrate just how proud she is of her son, who she said ‘doesn’t ask us for anything’.

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Anthony Joshua, 28, appears in The Fight Of My Life, a film about his preparation for his match against  Wladimir Klitschko in April this year. His mother Yeta Odusanya, 51, gives a rare interview in the documentary

Most often seen dominating the ring or squaring up against opponents at weigh-ins, the documentary offers a rare glimpse into Joshua’s low-key family life outside of the sport.

It shows Joshua, 28, training at the gym when his family surprise him with a cake and cards.

Carrying a glove-shaped cake, the family reveal their pride in the boxer and wish him luck at the party, just 12 days before he would go on to beat Klitschko.

Yeta told the cameras: ‘We’ve actually come here to give him a big surprise because he’s been working hard training for the big event. We thought it’d be good to do a little something for him because he doesn’t ask us for anything.

‘He’s just a blessing to the family; an inspiration to the younger ones and also to us as well.’

The notoriously private athlete spends time with his family on camera, including his young son Joseph

New documentary The Fight Of My Life was filmed ahead of Joshua’s career-changing fight against Wladimir Klitschko in April this year

The mother and son have always had a close relationship, but have been notoriously protective of their privacy.

Joshua even moved back into his mum’s North London council flat after the Klitschko fight, despite earning a staggering £15million from the event.

In the film he says that his mother ‘doesn’t understand’ boxing but is happy that it has taught him a lot.

She said: ‘I saw the changes in him. the dedication the hard work and all that. No one wants to see their son in a fight. I’ve only been to two, it’s just too emotional and very nerve-wracking and as a mum you feel for your child.’

Yeta calls her son a ‘blessing’ and an inspiration to the whole family. She throws a party for him ahead of the fight in the film

Joshua says he wants to be a relatable celebrity that fans feel comfortable approaching in the street

Yeta also recalled an incident when one of Joshua’s early trainers telling her that her son was destined to be a top level boxer.

‘I remember one of the trainers dropped him off at home and said ”You know what mum, your son is gonna be a world champion one day.”

‘And I was kind of like ”What is he talking about?”’

The film sees the family lavish the boxer with cards, cake and presents as he spends quality time with his young son before the match.

The family visited Joshua 12 days before the big fight, bringing him a glove-shaped cake and cards

Yeta told him on camera: ‘We love you very much and we’re proud of you,’ while the family embrace one another at the party.

Joshua admitted he was finding it hard to relax before the event, saying he’d been in a ‘mental battle’ in the days leading up to it.

He said: ‘I don’t want to get so excited that the jar gets too full and starts to explode before I’ve even had the fight. I’m just trying to stay calm but sometimes when I’m lying in bed I can’t sleep.

‘I’m just thinking about it like ”I can’t wait to perform, it’s gonna be sick” but it’s just another day, I’ve got to see it as another day.

He moved back into his mother’s council flat in North London after £15million from the event

‘You’re constantly in a mental battle like ”Do I stay relaxed? Do I just enjoy this moment?” Because of what it is so you’re in a mental battle to deal with this type of occasion.’

The moving film also saw Joshua reveal his desire to remain a normal person, while also being someone that his fans can look up to.

‘I don’t want to be a boxer that’s so detached from the public that people think ”yeah he’s good, but I don’t think I can achieve that”.

‘I want people to feel like they can achieve it, because “he’s still a local kid he’s still a local boy. If I pop to Finchley I know I can bump into him and get ten minutes of his time, some advice.”‘

Anthony Joshua: The Fight Of My Life airs tonight at 10:45pm on BBC One.