THE big question in British boxing at the moment: Is Anthony Joshua ready for the big guns?
Well I was pleased to see that the Boxing News writers, of whom we expect to be well versed in their field as they have so much time to study the form, all think that Anthony Joshua isn’t quite ready. Although I can’t believe one writer dismissed only the top five, therefore suggesting the likes of Bermane Stiverne, Carlos Takam, Tyson Fury, Bryant Jennings, and Tony Thompson (ranked six to 10 by BN) would all be a good match for Joshua at this stage.
We don’t know if Joshua knows how to survive, or even whether he is able to do 10 or 12 rounds. If you want to test him out in the later rounds, don’t stick him in with the likes of Thompson who would certainly test his chin and his stamina. I wanted to see him in with David Price, who would test him out chin-wise and go a few more rounds, but he is injured so let’s see what he’s like with Dillian Whyte. It’s a grudge match of sorts, both fighters want it, it will not need any selling, so just find a venue and get the two camps to agree terms. After Dillian – who has beaten Joshua as an amateur but has not subsequently progressed like Anthony – then put him in with the experienced Chris Arreola. I don’t go for Derek Chisora, as Fury played with him, and Joshua would do the same. Then it might be time to think about the likes Thompson, and onwards and upwards.
While on the subject of rated fighters, Andy Lee goes to the United States in Peter Quillin’s back yard gives him a good old shock, has all the odds stacked against him, gets a well deserved draw yet Boxing News ranks Andy at No.9 and Peter Quillin, who had the benefit of everything but still could only scrape a draw, is rated No.8?
While I’m picking holes, the editor last week picked Daniel Geale to beat Miguel Cotto while the rest of the BN team picked the Puerto Rican. He must have had some bad information; mind you he is only young and still learning.
[I’m old enough to know better -Ed]
