By Gabriel Princewill-
IBF champion, Anthony Joshua made Eric Molina look like a novice bashing him in three brutal rounds. The very athletic 6ft 6 inches heavyweight champion shined, as was expected of him.
Joshua had appeared condescending when initially telling Molina at their press conference that he would make his opponent look like a novice. However, before a packed and enthralling audience at the Manchester arena, he did precisely that and made Molina look an amateur novice in comparison.
Molina’s earlier promise to shock British fans with an upset was empty and vain. He must have been in fantasy land thinking he could come to London and crash Joshua’s party.
It was Molina, who was eventually shocked by the speed and power of London-born Joshua, who was impeccable in the authoritative manner of his execution. On the 18th assignment of his professional journey as a heavyweight, Joshua looked menacing and venomous in his strident attack.
Molina was out of place and no match whatsoever for him. Molina simply could not test Joshua, the Londoner is a class above him. He just does everything perfectly, from preparation to delivery.
Anthony Joshua began to unleash his athletic prowess on Molina from the second round, employing his speed, reach and power in dictating the pace and structure of the fight. Molina was not allowed to gather any meaningful rhythm before he was sent to the canvas by one of Joshua’s power punches.
Molina appeared to be digging deep into his reserves, in search of an extra -ordinary level of courage required to mount a comeback after being dropped by Anthony Joshua in the third round.
So futile were those efforts in doing so, for Joshua sensed the end of proceedings and jumped on his prey, launching a barrage of menacing blows to score an emphatic stoppage and end the show early.
The result was not far off what was expected by experts, as Joshua eclipsed the performance of Deontey Wilder who took nine rounds to dispose of the same challenger earlier in the year. However as styles make fights, this does not suggest that Joshua will beat Wilder if they met tomorrow.
What it suggests is how awesome AJ looked in delivering his emphatic win against a level of opposition not comparatively weak on paper. Anthony Joshua was comparatively too strong in reality
Anthony Joshua faces Wladimir Klitschko next in April 2017 for the IBF and WBA belts. That fight will sell and break records, but concern has also been expressed that Wladimir Klitschko would have been out of the ring for a year and a half by then.
That gap away from the ring may be compensated by Klitschko’s wide experience as a professional, providing the thorough examination Joshua needs as a professional.
Anthony Joshua’s Momentum
Nonetheless, Joshua’s sustained momentum will be so widely contrasted with klitschko’s inactivity that the latter appears to be set up for his final fall before retirement. It will be a shameful way to bow out of the sport if inactivity costs Wladimir Klitschko the fight.
The huge financial remuneration a Joshua- Klitschko fight will generate may be the main driving force behind the fight. It is an interesting match up, exploited by Eddie Hearns as a consequence of Tyson’s Fury’s mess up in leaving Klitschko in the cold and without a fight for their October 29 rematch.
Klitschko looked more like a businessman as he responded to Eddie Hearn’s invitation into the ring after Saturday’s event to promote his spring fight with Anthony Joshua. Joshua and Klitschko are closer to friends than rivals, but that’s also because they are two of the most dignified boxers in the entire heavyweight division.
Notwithstanding, if 18 months is too long to be without a fight in heavyweight boxing, the timing of this fight may be wrong for Klitschko and right for both their pockets. This point will be revisited in discourse closer to the time. It would be great if they can give us a fight as thrilling as that of Vitali Klitschko and Lennox Lewis in 2004 or Derek Chisora and Dyllian Whyte on Saturday.
The heavyweight clash between Chisora and Whyte was undoubtedly the fight of the year. The two boxers deserve medals for putting up a valiant performance in their thriller, taking us back to the golden era of boxing. It was so rare, so special. It was in all a night to remember.