Joshua ready to become star of the boxing world
THE last time Anthony Joshua cried was seven years ago when he lost in the final of the world amateur boxing championships in Azerbaijan.
He sobbed all the way to the dressing room, stung by having to stomach a silver medal when his sights were set purely on gold. But tears are not an option this morning as Joshua arrives at a grand moment after just 18 career fights. At Wembley Stadium, he has the stage to forge a legacy for himself in boxing’s glamour division.
Standing in the 27-year-old’s way is Wladimir Klitschko, the 41-year-old Ukrainian who, until 18 months ago, had held an iron-fisted grip on the division for a decade. This is the moment for Joshua to deliver. This morning he could mark the start of a new era in the sport, given his British rival, Tyson Fury, the man who dethroned Klitschko, remains in the wilderness due to his mental health issues and admissions of cocaine abuse.
Joshua must show that he has the aptitude, nerve and fighting IQ to defeat a man who has won more world title contests that Joshua has had fights. The stones have been thrown out there by both promoter Eddie Hearn, and Joshua’s calm, respected trainer Robert McCracken this week: that it is no pushover, that it remains a genuine test at elite level for ‘AJ’ and that he is going into uncharted waters.
‘‘I think anything can happen in this fight, but I do think victory for Anthony Joshua probably makes him the biggest star in world boxing,’’ Hearn said, ‘‘and it will take boxing to a whole new level. But we also know the dangers and we know this is a 50-50 fight. Wladimir has the experience and many dangerous Telegraph, London REUTERS attributes that could cause Anthony problems.’’
Those words are echoed by the man who will have Joshua’s complete attention in those crucial 60 seconds between rounds. McCracken will be Joshua’s eyes and ears, and there is none of a fight’s nuances that escape him.
‘‘The time has come for Anthony to be tested and, if he comes through this, it will be like this over and over again,’’ McCracken said, after yesterday’s weigh-in. ‘‘Josh is relaxed and ready, properly prepared, but it would be silly of me to say this is not a dangerous fight, because it is. We are rolling the dice after just 18 fights, due to public demand. But believe me, when the chips are down, Josh likes to fight. There’s some real spite in him, and even though you look at his physique and that is incredible in itself, I’ve seen the fighter in him.’’
Hearn has seen something in Joshua this week, too. Joshua has brushed off Klitschko’s attempts at controlling the buildup, never allowing his intensity to waver in public, and offering a few derisive words behind the scenes that suggests he means business. It is creating an aura.
‘‘Oh, he definitely has that,’’ Hearn agreed. ‘‘And one of the most incredible things about Anthony is how calm he stayed under this massive pressure.’’