They’ve called him a novice, ‘immature’, inexperienced. It’s too early they said, too soon for him. “He’s untested” – the boxing world echoed.
Some say the decision to step-up for the IBF World Heavyweight Championship spells a premature end to an untainted, perfect streak of 15 fights, 15 wins, and 15 knockouts.
The doubters kept ringing, and Anthony Joshua kept answering. Silencing them. One after the other.
The British Olympic Super-Heavyweight Gold Medalist, Common Wealth and WBC International Heavyweight Champion currently boasts a 100{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} knock-out rate, cutting through the competition like a hot knife through butter. Coming off a convincing win, Anthony Joshua faced much adversity in rival Dillian Whyte when he was rocked in the 2nd round only to come back and win via devastating KO in the 7th, laying the giant-sized Dillian Whyte flat, face-down on the canvas. He overcame that test and shook the arena with a one-punch KO that sent ripples throughout the boxing world. The six foot six inch frame of the giant, Anthony Joshua towered in the ring as he stood victorious; the echoes of doubts were laid to rest. He had proven himself. It was his time.
The phone rang once again, to fight Charles Martin, the IBF World Heavyweight Championship. Without a doubt in his mind, Anthony knew he was ready.
The truth is, all doubters, haters and naysayers apart, It doesn’t even matter what we think about Anthony Joshua. Our idea of how experienced or inexperienced this super-star novice is almost irrelevant. The ‘young-one’ has massive talent, the size that could move mountains. You could consider him a novice due to inexperience but his talents are nothing short of extraordinary. When you have the makings of a champion – then it’s only a matter of time before you become one.
If the best in the world are gnawing at your heels, wanting a piece of you, then you know you’re ready. The strong must eat the strong, and only then you will survive.
When you have the likes of WBC Champ Deontay Wilder, British Boxing Superstar – David Haye, and the man who defeated Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury himself all wanting a piece of Britain’s up and coming boxing phenom; then it really doesn’t matter what the world has to say, the list is proof itself.
If Anthony Joshua wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t have been on the minds of these dangerous heavyweights. If he wasn’t a threat, they wouldn’t have his name on their tongues. It’s almost as if his sheer power and size has intimidated the lot.
There’s one last call to answer, and the ‘young-one’ has most definitely set himself up for being a potential all-time great.
This April 9th, a sold-out London O2 arena is going to watch history in the making, when a new Champ is crowned, and the last wave of doubters are hushed for good. Will Anthony Joshua beat a tough opponent in Charles Martin? Or will the American come out victorious, closing the gates on AJ fans around the world, derailing the young Brit’s journey and his unstained legacy?
