Joshua targets Fury’s world titles after Whyte showdown
Published:
Lee Gormley | December 7, 2015
Anthony Joshua v Dillian Whyte
- British heavyweight title fight
- Saturday, December 12th
- Scheduled for: 22:00 GMT
- O2 Arena, London
- Live on Sky Sports Box Office
Joshua climbing the heavyweight ladder
Promising British heavyweight Anthony Joshua enters the O2 Arena ring in London this Saturday night for his much-anticipated showdown with Dillian Whyte, with the 2012 Olympic Gold medallist aiming to continue his rampant rise up the division ladder.
Joshua (14-0, 14 KOs) has stopped all 14 of his professional opponents so far in his short but sweet career, and will next contest long-standing rival Whyte (16-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant British heavyweight title, as well as putting his WBC international and commonwealth straps on the line.
The 26-year-old is 3/1 with Coral to end Whyte’s night in the first round, having previously halted Scotsman Gary Cornish in under two minutes of the first bell, but he already has his sights on a potential world title bout with Tyson Fury next year.
Fury fight what the fans want
With a host of heavyweight names putting themselves forward to challenge recently-crowned heavyweight champion Fury, who ended Wladimir Klitschko’s dominant 11-year reign, Joshua believes he’ll go front of the queue with another win this weekend.
“I’d fight for that belt 100 per cent. I’ve got to fight for that British belt first though. You’ve got him, Alexander Povetkin, Deontay Wilder. I wouldn’t put David Haye up there just yet – he achieved more as a cruiserweight so I wouldn’t put him there yet,” stated Joshua, who is 9/1 for a points victory over Whyte.
“The thing with me and Fury, and it’s the same as me and the Dillian Whyte fight is, that people want to see us fight. Champion or no champion – they want to see us fight. That’s why it’ll be made. Even though I’m not at that level, I think it’ll be fast-tracked.
“Can they see snippets of greatness?”
“I thought it’d be routine [for Klitschko]. One man has really changed the course of heavyweight boxing. You’ve got guys like me and Dillian, Kubrat Pulev, Jennings, Povetkin – we should be fighting for the champion there.
“On December 12th, people want to see us go to war but they’ll also be asking whether we are the guys to challenge. They’re looking a year from now at a our potential. Are we good enough to fight down the line? Can they see snippets of greatness?”
Amateur loss doesn’t concern Joshua
Much of the Londoner’s latest fight build-up has centred around Whyte’s amateur triumph over him back in 2008 by unanimous decision, before going on to clinch gold as a super-heavyweight in his own backyard. Although, Joshua is adamant that history will not repeat itself, with his 27-year-old opponent 8/1 to emerge victorious this time again.
“I think he’s a good prospect. I don’t think this fight will be the end of Dillian. Fury has really brought that attention to the division so with us prospects coming through, people are really looking at us now. I think he’ll be a world title challenger if he’s managed right but I don’t know if he’ll be a world champion,” continued Joshua.
“I don’t know if people see me as a good guy – they just want to see me beat up a few people. There are also people who want to see me get beaten up. That’s what comes with the pressure and the hype. I want people to watch what I’m working on and you’ve got to market yourself and let everyone know what you’re about.”
Whyte not afraid of anyone
Ahead of their long-awaited grudge bout, Whyte stepped up the war of words by claiming Joshua is just “a big Audley Harrison”, stating during ‘the Gloves are Off’ that his latest foe will fail to live up to expectations.
“You’re just a big Audley Harrison mate, your heart will fail you. Trust me,” declared Jamaican-born Whyte.
“My mindset, it’s always been my thing. I’ll fight anybody anywhere, I’m not scared of anybody.”
Whyte enters the action-packed London card as the 9/1 outsider to knockout Joshua, while his Watford-born rival is 7/2 to halt proceedings in rounds 4-6, having never been taken beyond the third round of any of his 14 professional contests to date.
Before the clash, Whyte predicted he would stop the Londoner in round six, which he is 100/1 to do, but Joshua will look to overcome this latest obstacle in his impressive career so far and edge closer towards a potential world title meeting with compatriot Fury in 2016.
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See who else is in action on the undercard this weekend
Coral’s top tip: Dillian Whyte could be Anthony Joshua’s toughest test to date, but he should still see off any threat, so back him at 7/2 to stop the Jamaican in rounds 4-6.
