THE rude health of the British boxing scene has convinced heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua he does not have to go Stateside to increase his global profile.
Joshua is less than a week away from the biggest fight of his career against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in front of a post-war British record crowd of 90,000.
It will be the 19th bout the 27-year-old has entered since the former Olympic gold medallist turned professional and every one has been staged on British soil.
His knowledge. My determination #IWILL pic.twitter.com/ptixoUMxLK
โ Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) April 20, 2017
He has become a world champion far away from the sportโs epicentre of Las Vegas and his forthcoming fight will be broadcast on the two major American networks HBO and Showtime, which has only previously happened on two occasions when Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather faced Manny Pacquiao.
Joshua believes the status quo of boxers needing to head to America to earn their stripes is no longer the case and that his reputation can be enhanced in his own backyard.
โVegas used to be on my tick list, but itโs not any more; itโs good here,โ Joshua said.
โI think itโs more of a point that Britainโs always overlooked. Itโs like you have to go to America to get respected โ no, not any more. Come here. Come and fight us.
Comfort Zones โ pic.twitter.com/gXlG7TiKT7
โ Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) April 19, 2017
โThatโs what I like at the minute, itโs amazing how the tables have turned.
โLook at the deal they managed to pull off in America with HBO and Showtime. I havenโt had to have a fight in America yet. I donโt think itโs important to go to America to make it bigger than what it is already.โ
That is not to say that Joshua is merely focused on a career in the confines of these borders, with the financial lure of America, and the personal pull of a bout in Africa, where his parents were born, both possibilities.
โIf I was to go to America, we all know the history of the sport with judging and home fighters,โ Joshua explained.
Goosebumps! One week to go ???????????? #joshuaklitschko ???????? pic.twitter.com/kbiO6bRPmg
โ Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) April 22, 2017
โIt has to be well worth it and thatโs where it comes back to finances because you have to make it worth your while.
โIโd love to fight in Africa like (Muhammad) Ali did with (George) Foreman. That would be amazing. Iโd love to fight in Vegas but I think that being a home fighter is the main thing.
โI donโt want to be accused of staying in my own backyard. It is good to get on the road to defend your title.โ
While there are a raft of British world champions, Joshua, in the sportโs most premier division, has the highest profile, even if he has no desire to hog the limelight.
โItโs the era of UK boxing, Iโm not holding onto it myself, I want everyone to shine,โ he said.