BY TIM PARSONS-
Anthony Joshua has urged boxing fans to be patient, as he develops on the heavyweight scene.
The London medalist, who has won all his fights to date, is the brand name in British boxing today. He has blown away all his opponents under 3 rounds, except for the tough Dillian Whyte, who went 7 rounds with the hard hitting unbeaten star. Many fans are eager to see Joshua take on big names like David Haye and Tyson Fury sooner rather than later. Joshua and his team plan to set up such big fights within the next year, which is fair at this stage of his career.
Anthony Joshua has made light work of 99% of his opponents so far, and they haven’t been bums. Joshua has simply been head and shoulders above them. American Charles Martin looked a bum against Joshua, but that’s because Joshua was just too good for Martin. Martin had won the IBF title by default after his opponent injured his knee whilst above on all the judge’s cards. He was still not a bad opponent to present to Joshua at that stage in his career to assess how he handles him. Not many predicted that Joshua will dispose of him so quickly, though the eye of media.com at the time speculated correctly that Joshua will defeat him early.
Similar predictions are now being made for this fight, though Dominic Breazeale is a powerful hitter himself who cannot be underestimated. Joshua looks set to take care of him before the sixth round, but it could be very different. A lot will depend on how confident the American is in taking the fight to Joshua, and how Anthony Joshua copes with any power of the American that lands. Breazeale at 6 ft 7inches and a 15 knock out the win from 17 fights cannot be said to be an easy opponent for Joshua. Breazeale has been in tough fights, and not really fed bums either. However, he hasn’t faced anyone like Joshua, and this is why most people don’t give the American a chance on Saturday. Joshua will have to win before we talk of him fighting the likes of David Haye and Tyson Fury. Eddie Hearn’s confidence that Fury will be a simple fight for Fury may be his truly held thoughts, but many believe this is more promotional talk than it is real. Hearn may really believe this, but only a real fight will tell us what will happen. Speaking about the pressure fir him to step up, Joshua said:
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“I’m 16 fights 16 wins, Dominic is 17 fights 17 wins, we’ve been pro for the same amount of time, amateurs for the same time so we’re at a similar level on paper. You can’t jump from hero to zero, there are people guiding us over a long career and a dangerous career. People have to understand that it’s a development of a career, and if I ever train a fighter, I’ll tell them the same thing.”
“People think this will end in two rounds? Brilliant. I am winning fights early because of my talent and hard work. Where I am in my career, it’s a perfect fight. I don’t follow a lot of sport but I follow athletes and individuals, looking at their paths. Where did they come from? People didn’t really know about Floyd until he had 20-odd fights – but you must realise he worked so hard to get there and stay there, years of grind to climb the ladder. “I don’t overlook anyone. People talk and talk, that’s irrelevant, it’s all about whether he can fight. I think he believes in himself but he knows what’s in store here, he needs to know I’m serious about this boxing. He thinks he’s going to KO me, he’s dismissed Charles Martin – sometimes you just have to humble and show levels, let them know it’s not that easy”, Anthony Joshua stated.
“There were a couple of potential opponents – Eric Molina and Bermane Stiverne – that are with Don King. He’s an old school promoter that has done some amazing things, but it was difficult to deal with him in the negotiations. It’s not as easy as ‘I want to fight that geezer’ and then we put a ring up.
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“There’s a business side to it and negotiations. We’re easy to work with and so it Dominic and his team, they know it’s a massive chance for him and that’s why he’s here and taking it deadly seriously. Those guys aren’t off the list, they may be back in play later in the year, but things take the time to progress. Boxing fans may grow more patient if Brezealle gives him a good fight on Saturday, but an easy win will add pressure for Joshua to”
“You can’t listen to the demands of the public because it’s your career and when it’s all said and done, you have to look yourself in the mirror at the end of it. People will be critical and if they don’t want to tune in, they don’t have to. Those that do, though, support me all the way because this won’t”
be my only defence. I want there to be lots and lots, and at the right time, I will fight David Haye, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and the rest.
We’re in an era now where we have to fight each other, there’s never been an era when the best don’t fight the best at Heavyweight – but they have to happen at the right time, and they will.” WBA and WBA heavyweight world champion, Tyson Fury, has several times commented that Joshua is fighting knock-overs, but will be comfortably beaten when they eventually meet. Fury will need to beat Wladimir Klitschko in their July 9th rematch for a clash with Anthony Joshua to retain its appeal. Joshua has stated that he will fight Fury whether or not Fury is successful in his defence against Klitschko. The truth is that a convincing defeat by Klitschko will kill the current interest in that fight down the line, as all attention and interest will be on a meeting between Joshua and Klitschko.
Klitschko is determined to regain his belt, and also has a great dislike for Tyson Fury. So, the outcome of that fight is still up in the air, though Tyson Fury will have to win if he is to be taken seriously as a true world champion who Anthony Joshua needs to fight and prove himself against. In the meantime, boxing fans will have to be patient, whilst Joshua continues to develop and Tyson Fury ‘s position as a world champion is tested.
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