The Future Of Heavyweight Boxing

By Olly Campbell - 01/31/2014 - Comments

joshua55By Olly Campbell: Okay, now might be a good time to forget what you think you know. Who is heir apparent to the heavyweight scene? Sure, lots of names are in the melting pot; Arreola, Stiverne, Fury, Jennings, Helenius, Pulev, Chisora etc. The list goes on and on. Yet these are guys who are looking to dethrone Wladimir Klitschko, and I wish them luck with that. No, my piece today is about a guy who is set to DETHRONE them. It is of course the hottest property in heavyweight prospects, Anthony Joshua.

Tomorrow night in Cardiff, Wales, on the undercard of Selby vs Munroe on the Matchroom Sports show, Joshua goes into battle for just the fourth time against a hometown fighter called Dorian Darch (7-2). In an interview today for IFLtv, Darch hinted at his cannon fodder expectations, whilst praising highly the man he knows he has no chance of beating.

Joshua IS our next Lennox Lewis in terms of world glory, and after only three fights, and three knockout victories, I feel anyone doubting his potential is either blind or stupid, especially with regards to boxing.

Twice, after.starting boxing at just 18 years old, Joshua captured ABA titles. His amazing and prodigious rise through the amateur ranks saw him selected for GBs Olympic team at London 2012, an event from which he brought back the gold medal. An outstanding feat in itself, something last greats like Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko have also captured, irrespective of country represented.

This kid can rise to their level, believe you me. In his pro debut last year, he wasn’t matched against some 6 win, 39 loss journeyman. They threw him in with Emmanuel Leo, an 8-0 prospect from Italy, to see if he sank or swam. The performance was a masterclass. Not overawed by the occasion of a debut, Joshua remained composed and above all, clinical. The Italian was finished inside a round.

For fight two, I guess they wanted experience. Paul Butlin, a 33 fight veteran with a 14-19 record was brought in and just as easily overwhelmed. Just like opponent number three, Hrvoje Kisicek. These guys are fodder and jokes for a guy with limited experience at amateur and professional level. Joshua didn’t start boxing until he was 18, he is 24 now with an Olympic gold and 3kos from 3 pro fights. That is natural talent ladies and gentleman, no doubt about it.

Watch Anthony Joshua box. He is teak tough, in prime physical condition, and frighteningly powerful. He has one of the best, and hardest left jab-right hands I have seen in a while. Yes, let’s see it tested at a higher level. I agree, but he is a 3, soon to be 4 fight novice with a 100 ko record, and NOT another Deontay Wilder…….Joshua has far more boxing ability. In terms of the Olympics, Gold beats Bronze any day. And after a few more fights, Joshua beats Wilder..

In fact, in 5 years, before he is 30, I fancy Joshua as a heavyweight champion of the world. All the basic tools are there. Let’s see him move through the domestic opposition first. Fellow UK prospect Carl Spencer (4-0) is a good start. Then the likes of Richard Towers, Sam Sexton, Martin Rogan and Tom Dallas can pave the way to a showdown with the slightly more experienced, though less talented, Hughie Fury. Once he beats them, Joshua could beat ALL the names I mentioned at the start, regardless of where they are.

How long can Wladimir go on? He is 37. Anthony Joshua is 24. His best and nearest competition is my other UK heavyweight favourite. Tyson Fury, who is 25.

THIS is the FUTURE of heavyweight boxing. Not Jennings, Pulev, Charr, Perez or even Chisora. Wake up and get with it. The next chapter is written tomorrow night in Cardiff.

Ollygothroxxx@gmail.com, ollycampbell.666 on Facebook.



Comments are closed.