By Tim Parsons-
Anthony Joshua, the Boxing IBF champion, cannot overlook his opponent, Eric Molina , whom he faces on Saturday night for the second defence of his IBF title.
Joshua who weighed in at 17 st 1111bs 1 oz was a stone heavier than his opponent who came in at 16 st 13 1b 8 oz. The undefeated londoner who has the IBF title belt told Sky sports that he has no intention of underestimating his opponent and is remaining focused on the challenger, despite being the favourite to win.
His humle statement was different to his claims less than 48 hours ago when he said he would make Molina look like a novice. That statement appears overconfident even with the 1005 K.O record that gives the Londoner every reason to believe he is capable of doing a number on Molina when they clash at the Manchester Arena tomorrow.
“People are coming out for this unexpected division, anything can happen. The odds are saying I’m a favourite, but I don’t see it like that. I’m staying focused, I’m treating Molina like a real threat, Joshua told Sky sports.
“I can’t go in there overlooking Molina. I can’t listen to what everyone says. I’m not involved in the hype, so I’ve got to take Eric Molina as a real challenger.”
The well toned Londoner reminded fans that he will take on all the big names when the time comes and expects to go through them all.
“Yeah man, names – there are so many of them,” he said. “I just focus on myself really and the man I’ve got in front me is Molina and that’s all that matters.
“All these names, it’s not a matter of if I face these guys, it’s a matter of when. One by one I’m going to keep knocking down that tree and I’ll go through it all.”
Asked for his pre-fight prediction, Joshua told Sky Sports: “Another knockout, blood, sweat and someone is going to be shedding tears.
Molina says he’s focused on the job he needs to do ahead of his IBF world heavyweight title fight with Joshua
“That’s what people want to see. That’s why people are coming out, because they like to hear the thud of the punches, the technique, and they want to see if this is the man to go on and rule the heavyweight division.
“They are seeing if this man has the potential. I’ll just reveal a bit of it to them, from there on get this w(win) and then we move onto a massive 2017.” Joshua talks like a real champion, and has bene winning like one. He has to keep winning to stay champion. He is a quality representative of the sport, a real people’s champion.
If he wins this and goes on to beat Wladimir Klitschko for both the WBA and IBF belts, he will become the man to beat. At the moment, Deontey Wilder has that spot. First, Joshua must go past Molina. No excuses will be good enough if he gets beaten.
Molina has lost just once in his last 8 fights to WBC Deontey Wilder, who knocked him around afh 9 rounds. The 6ft 4 inches fighter has shrugged off the those who have written him off and is intend on pulling a big upset and ”shock the whole of Britain. It is unlikely this will happen but not impossible at all.
Nobody expected Tyson Fury to beat Wladimir Klitschko when they met last November so it would be crazy to rule out Molina completely. He is not the best boxer or the biggest puncher around, but he can punch. He has enough confidence and ability tom do the unthinkable and he will be gunning for just that when the bell rings.
Joshua cannot afford to overlook Molina or his IBF belt will be gone before he knows it. Joshua should be too good for him though. He can’t afford to lose now, but history is full of boxing upsets. Molina is not just coming for the cash. After his good performance against Deontey Wilder last time, Molina has every reason to believe he can pull this off and he has a game plan to really attempt a win. It won’t be a walk over whatever happens.