By Scott Gilfoid: Writer Colin Hart believes that Britain’s super heavyweight gold medalist Anthony Joshua lucked out in beating Cuba’s Erislandy Savon and also Italy’s Roberto Cammarelle in capturing the gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in London. Hart believed that Joshua would have lost to both Cammarelle and Savon had the fight not taken place in London.
Hart said to thesun.co.uk “I an convinced Anthony Joshua would not have won the super heavyweight gold medal had the 2012 Games not been held in London…He was clearly outpointed by Cuban Erislandy Savon, who was much faster and more skillful.”
I hate to say it but I totally agree with Mr. Hart. I felt that Savon was clearly the better fighter in their first round Olympic match and I was stunned beyond belief when Joshua was given the decision over him. I noticed that the large pro-Joshua crowd was cheering like mad for Joshua despite the fact that he was getting bombarded by Savon for three rounds without let up. Joshua’s wins over Cammarelle and Ivan Dychko were almost as bad but not quite. I had Cammarelle winning a decisive victory over Joshua, and I thought Dychko did more than enough to take two out of three rounds.
Joshua’s questionable wins in the Olympic competition suggest that he’s not at the top of the pack in the 2012 amateur class. It shows that he’s probably around number four in terms of the top amateurs in the world, and while that’s not bad, it’s not a good sign for Joshua. If he’s not even the top guy in the amateur ranks what does that tell you about his chances when he turns pro someday? Joshua can’t fight in London all the time, and once he finds himself in a neutral country things could go badly for him. Joshua needs speed, power and boxing ability, but I don’t see him being able to gain those qualities in the future. If he’s not fast and powerful by 22, he’s not likely to pick up those attributes later.
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