Wood’s glad to add to Tour’s new six appeal
ANTHONY JOSHUA doubts his name will ever be etched in heavyweight folklore alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, no matter what he achieves.
The IBF and now WBA champion has, of course, got an awful long way to go before he could be considered a great and it is far from a foregone conclusion that he ever will.
He may have two world titles and an Olympic gold to his name.
He may have silenced the doubters with his stunning stoppage over Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday. But he is an inexperienced professional with just 19 fights, despite being 27.
Joshua showed frailties at Wembley Stadium and could well have lost. But it is those vulnerabilities that help make him the boxoffice hit he is.
So should he, as he hopes, emulate Klitschko and dominate the heavyweight scene for a decade or more, then surely he will become boxing royalty?
“Can I ever see a time when it will be Ali, Foreman, Holmes, Joshua? Nah,” he said.
“There are too many opinions now. They didn’t give Klitschko the respect he deserves, you know what I mean?
“I just try to keep some distance from it and stay in my own lane.
“As long as I’m happy, that’s what matters. I’m not perfect but what I do, I do good.
“I’ll keep improving on it and if that’s good enough to get me through in the boxing game, then I’ll be satisfied. I know I can get better.”
Saturday’s epic clash in front of 90,000 fans made AJ a new British sporting icon.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, always believed he would be anyway but the breathtaking manner of the win captured the public’s imagination.
To climb off the canvas to win in the 11th, and against such an inspired opponent...
The next time he fights, the country will probably grind to a halt.
Even before the fight, rap star Dr Dre and music legend Elton John were in touch with good luck messages to prove Joshua’s star status.
Graham Norton wants him on his show, while the major US TV networks are clambering over each other to book him. Joshua says CHRIS WOOD has welcomed the European Tour’s plan to let its collective hair down in St Albans this weekend – albeit with reservations.
Wood, below, will represent England alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Andy Sullivan at the Centurion Club in the GolfSixes event, which is being trumpeted as the sport’s answer to cricket’s Twenty20.
Sixteen nations will take part in a succession of six-hole matches – a quickfire version of the game tried out in the final round of the World Super 6 Perth in Australia in February. “I’m going in pretty open-minded. Anything the Tour are trying that’s a bit different, I’m willing to support,” said Wood.
“It could be quite fun. There’s a bit of anticipation around it because it’s not just another mundane four-rounder. Even in China last week people were talking about it. There’s definitely potential around it and it would be great to see it grow. Hopefully it will attract juniors because that’s who we need to bring in to golf.
“Everything nowadays is instant and the problem is that golf isn’t. If they see something that doesn’t last as long, then hopefully they will be attracted to that.”
Speed is of the essence, from the greensomes format – where each team choose their best drive and then play alternate shots – to the shot clock employed on the fourth hole. Slow coaches who breach the 40-second time will incur a penalty stroke.
Pre-event ticket sales of 5,000 for the two days suggest the public have yet to wholly embrace the new concept, despite the ‘lure’ of Vernon Kay as event host and Kevin Pietersen and Denise van Outen as celebrity guest commentators.
The prospect of being greeted by fireworks and music on the first tee does not do much for Wood either.
“I’m not sure about that. It’s not really my scene, I’ll be honest. I’d rather creep on around the back,” he said.
But he is all for the spectator involvement which is promised.
If golf’s new fans decide they want to send up an England chant or two while he and Sullivan are playing their shots, he will not be backing off.
“I wouldn’t mind,” he said. “Bubba Watson started it at the Ryder Cup and Ian Poulter went along with it. Trying to make golf a bit more relaxed is the way to go rather than it being so stuffy and silent with no one allowed to move.”