Anthony Joshua becomes shareholder in hemp company

WORLD boxing champion Anthony Joshua has become a key shareholder in Love Hemp to help produce cannabidiol (CBD) products for athletes.

CBD is a component found in marijuana and hemp.

The Nigerian-born Briton has signed a three-year deal and will collaborate on a licenced range of CBD products for athletes, Sky Sports reported on Monday.

His part in the deal is to mostly help position CBD as an internationally recognised, certified product for athletes.

“Love Hemp is a great brand with an amazing vision. The ability of CBD to improve people’s everyday lives is undeniable,” Joshua said.

“I have a passion for dynamic British businesses, and for wellness, making Love Hemp a perfect brand for me to endorse and become a shareholder in. My work with Love Hemp will allow me to be involved in the company’s aggressive growth strategy as well as developing my own branded wellness focused CBD products.

“Everyone should be able to experience and enjoy the many benefits CBD provides. I look forward to working with Love Hemp to achieve this goal.”

Tony Calamita, Chief Executive Officer of Love Hemp Group said he was delighted to have Joshua on board.

“We are excited and privileged to welcome Anthony Joshua to the Love Hemp family,” Calamita said.

“His profile in the international sports arena is key to the ongoing growth of the Love Hemp brand into the amateur and elite sports world.”

After his proposed world heavyweight unification bout was scuttled, Joshua’s next fight will be against Oleksandr Usyk in September in London.

Joshua will be defending his International Boxing Federation, Word Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation heavyweight titles against the Ukrainian.

The 31-year-old Joshua has 25 professional fights, winning 24 of them, 22 via knockouts.

His only defeat came against Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.