BY GABRIEL PRINCEWILL
Impressive British Olympic gold medalist, Anthony Joshua made it 12 knockouts from 12 fights when he bludgeoned Brazillian Raphael Zumbaro(36-10-1) in the second round in Birmingham last Saturday. As expected, Joshua dominated his opponent from the very outset before dumping him to the canvas with one of his trade mark blows.
The athletic Londoner is now the only heavyweight in British history to have a 100% knockout ratio after 12 fights, and he has done so against opponents with winning records even though they have turned out to be no match for him. Former undisputed heavyweight champ, Lennox Lewis stopped his first 11 opponents before winning a points decision against tough Ossie Ocasio over 8 rounds. Lewis went on to knock out his next 10 opponents on a stretch, leaving very high standards for Joshua to match. The quality of opposition with which the 2012 gold medalist have been fed are quite reasonable at this stage of his career and compare fairly well against the sort Lennox Lewis faced during his ascendancy to the heavyweight throne he dominated before retiring in 2005 after the thrilling battle against Vitali Klitschko which was stopped in the 6th round courtesy of the serious damage to Klitschko’s face and the risk the ringside doctor felt it posed to Klitschko, who himeslef retired a champion.
However, Joshua is yet to face some of the stiff tests Lewis faced in a career spanning well over a decade. He has been fighting regularly, though is behind Lewis who had completed 12 fights after exactly 12 months compared to Joshua’s 12 fights in 19 months. Understandably, Joshua has been set back a few months because of injury but seems to be up for compensating on lost time by taking on 3 fights in 2 months. Joshua is sure comparing well with Lennox Lewis, though it is fair to say he still has a long way to go.
Joshua’s Brazillian opponent was never going to beat the muscular 6ft 6 humble powerhouse, but the emphatic victory typical of all his wins so far is simply testifies to the potential our leading prospect has in this sport. Joshua will face his first test in Kevin Johnson, on May 30 in what may tell us a bit more about him. Johnson, who was ringside in Birmingham has already been telling reporters that he knows exactly what to do to beat Joshua. Johnson has not been stopped in 36 fights, and may well ask some serious questions of Joshua when the pair square off in just over 2 weeks. Until then, Joshua still looks a winner and we will have to see him on the floor before we believe otherwise.
