Joshua debut is Emanuele Leo

[JimJim2009]

I think his athletism is elite he comes across extremely focused with good work ethic he is very roar & slightly robotic would love to see him tutored by somebody of Tim witherspoons stature.

I like him think he'll go far without truly being tested which is my main concern

That is a really, really, really good idea

[JimJim2009]

You're clutches at straws for something to moan about. Just relax a bit. Pretty sure fast Eddie was quite honest with his appraisal after the Rocky Fielding fight last weekend. Don't get agitated over what someone might say in the future[/quote]

I would be so shown up if somebody said that to me

[iamasadlittleboy]

Are people seriously slagging off a guy because he is fighting a gimme on his pro debut? Boxrec has hit a new low.

More slagging off the cynicism. The Hearns have picked someone with a clear intention of saying Joshua has beaten someone with an "unbeaten record" as opposed to anything.

Fight a gimme on debut is no problem, and no one expects Joshua to begin like Murata or Lomachenko but we don't need things that look better on paper than they are.

So you'd rather him face a guy who really is shite as opposed to a guy with an unbeaten record who is shite? Are you on crack?

Shite is shite either way. I'd feel pissed if Danny Garcia fought Cuenca despite Cuenca's unbeaten record, it's cynical and looks good on paper. Just like Ali Raymi's record.

[lillywhite14]

It's his first fight! Who would you want him in with?

[ILikeBeer]

It's his first fight! Who would you want him in with?

^ This.

People's debuts are always against low level opponents. Why is it suddenly a scandal? I just can't believe there are people who post on a boxing forum who don't understand that.

For a debut opponent, Emanuele Leo has a decent record. He's not fought anybody good, and is obviously there because he doesn't much chance of winning. But at least he's coming in defending an unbeaten record so he might try to win. That's good experience for Joshua. A lot of times in an boxer's early career, they fight journeymen with more losses than wins.

And if you look Anthony Joshua has a fight scheduled three weeks after this, and one at the end of November. So he's obviously after keeping busy.


I just don't see the problem.

[lillywhite14]

Its all well and good saying he needs to be tested from the off but after ten fights where does that leave him? Some nutter talking about him fighting for a world title?

Despite his amateur success we aren't talking about a seasoned amateur vet who has 150 fights under his belt already. I think he hs only had around 50 bouts so far. For an Olympic champion and World Championship runner up that is pretty rare.

[JimStone]

Weigh-in. Both guys around 16 and a half stone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRPhxVwGDU