KEVIN JOHNSON, Anthony Joshuaโs antagonist tonight (May 30) at the O2 Arena in London, has provided light relief over the course of the week building up to the big show. An off the wall presence at the press conference, deciding to check Joshuaโs heartrate at yesterdayโs weigh-in. The Londoner has remained calm in the face of him, though Anthony would surely relish becoming the first man to stop the abrasive โKingpinโ.
โHeโs from America, very confident, thatโs what I was expecting and thatโs just what heโs like,โ Joshua told Boxing News.
He promises to bring a professional approach to the fight though. โIโll take pleasure in defeating a world champion. I canโt really look at Johnson and take pleasure in defeating someone like that because heโs not the best in the world, is he? I canโt really get too frustrated or too carried away with someone like Johnson. Iโve just got to keep my head on my shoulders and just get him out the way. Treat him like any other opponent,โ he said.
Joshua is part of a generation of quality prospects, auditioning to become the next stars in British boxing. โWeโre all part of the wave,โ Anthony said, though he tips a fellow London 2012 gold medallist as the man to watch. โLuke Campbell stands out for me,โ he adds. โSo much experience and defeated great, great amateurs, at international level he proved himself.โ
Johnson may be the sternest test of his professional career but victory should see Joshua embark on exciting run of domestic clashes. Dillian Whyte could fight Joshua in September and David Price could take him on in the relatively near future. โI love the Price versus Joshua fight,โ said Anthonyโs promoter Eddie Hearn. โWeโre not talking about waiting two years, weโre talking about six months and then Joshuaโs going to be in all the big fights. And how good is it going to be when Joshuaโs in big fights? Thatโs when boxingโs going to go to another level because he can transcend the sport, no doubt about that.
โOne more in July and then weโre off the leash, whether itโs Price, whether itโs Dillian Whyte, whether itโs [Dereck] Chisora, one of those will be in the ring in September then thatโs it. Thereโs no turning back.
โWe donโt know how good Anthony Joshua is or will be. I think he is the best prospect weโve ever had. I think he could be phenomenal. Until heโs in these fights we donโt know, do we? What if he fights David Price and gets beat? I canโt see it. David Price can punch. Dillian Whyte, I see that as an easy fight for Joshua. Heโs going to be game. I just think itโs like different levels. Price is a tougher fight.
โI love the Dillian Whyte fight because as a promoter itโs got everything you need, you can sit down and have a press conference and you can talk about their old [amateur] fight.
“We’re only a couple of months away from really finding out what we’ve got.โ
WATCH ANTHONY JOSHUA AND KEVIN JOHNSON HIT THE SCALES HERE