Joshua: I’ll be world No1 with Lennox’s help
OLYMPIC gold medallist Anthony Joshua hopes he can count on Lennox Lewis as a mentor as he looks to emulate the former undisputed world heavyweight champion and become the world’s best.
London-born Lewis won Olympic gold in 1988 representing Canada, having moved to Ontario at the age of 12, and went on to dominate the heavyweight division after turning professional.
And Joshua, who will make his first step up from the amateur ranks in October after signing a three-year deal with Matchroom Sport, feels words of wisdom from Lewis can see him follow in the 47-year-old’s footsteps.
“I will mainly take words of advice, mental stuff,” said Joshua, 23.
“Training-wise I am sorted and promotionally and management the boxes are ticked. But Lennox owns the T-shirt on heavyweight boxing. Words from the champ are priceless.
“They [GB Boxing] took me from a complete novice to ABA champion to No1 in the world, the Olympic gold medallist. It was a privilege working with the coaches and it has given me the foundations to move into the professional ranks to hopefully become world No1 some time in the future.”
Joshua is expected to complete four bouts before the end of the year, with appearances on the undercards of Kell Brook’s fight in October and Carl Froch against George Groves in November or December, likely.
And promoter Eddie Hearn feels Joshua possesses all the attributes necessary to challenge the Klitschko brothers’ long-standing domination of the heavyweight division.
“I believe we have a heavyweight in this country we can get very excited about,” said Hearn. “He has got it all, speed, power and he looks the part.
“The heavyweight division is the most powerful division in British boxing and I think we have the foundations of a great fighter here.”