Anthony Joshua wants Tony Thompson fight

By Boxing News - 03/05/2015 - Comments

joshua2By Scott Gilfoid: #7 WBC heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua (10-0, 10 KOs) says he’s interested in facing the 43-year-old, former two-time world title challenger Tony Thompson (40-5, 27 KOs) in the near future.

Just when the 25-year-old Joshua wants to take the fight against the 6’5” Thompson is unknown. What is known is that Thompson wants to face Joshua and school him before facing WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

“I like the idea of boxing Tony Thompson in the near future,” Joshua said on his twitter. “Be a great statement. I ALWAYS forward these offers across to my coach,” Joshua said on his twitter.

Joshua needs to forward this offer to his promoter Eddie Hearn, because he’s the guy that makes the fights for Joshua, and I think Thompson is a far off from the type of guys that Hearn is looking to put in with Joshua right now.

Joshua has been feasting on journeyman level opposition like Michael Sprott, Konstantin Airich, Matt Skelton and Matt Legg. Those guys are way below Thompson in the food china. That’s why this could be a disaster if Hearn agrees to let Joshua fight Thompson.

Joshua will be fighting on April 4th in a 10 round bout against an opponent still to be determined at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. Joshua wants to fight twice in March. One of the opponents could be journeyman Kevin Johnson.

Thompson is coming off of an 8th round stoppage victory over Cuban Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis last month on February 27th. For Thompson, this was his second victory over Solis.

Thompson was also beaten by Carlos Takam last year in losing by a 12 round decision last June. There’s no shame in losing to a talented fighter like Takam, because I could see this guy Beating Joshua by knockout. Thompson also has two stoppage wins over Britain’s David Price in 2013. Price captured an Olympic bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics.

Hearn feels that Joshua is talented enough to win a world title in the near future, but it doesn’t look like Hearn wants to test him against anyone good before he gets a world title shot.

We’re likely to see Joshua face the likes of Kevin Johnson soon, and whoever else that Hearn can find. Price is someone who could wind up facing Joshua if the fight can be successfully negotiated. I don’t suspect that Price will make it easy with the negotiations. He’s going to want to be paid well for a fight against Joshua.

If Hearn makes the mistake of throwing the heavily muscled Joshua in with Thompson right now, we could very well see Joshua tasting defeat for the first time. Joshua has never fought a long distance fight, and it’s quite probable that he’s not going to do well once he starts fighting guys that can take him deep into his fights. Joshua’s muscles, while good for short fights, could be a hindrance for him against guys that can take him in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th rounds like Thompson will be trying to do.



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