Should Anthony Joshua go for the British title?

[Stuarty]

It's a fantastic title and beautiful belt so yeah I think every Brit would want and should want to win that title.

[jonnyyorkshu]

I also had KJ beating Hammer.
But after the Chisora and fury fight KJ for me is just a pay check fighter now,shame as he has great defence and is a funny guy too.
AJ will be the first man to stop KJ but I'm still not 100% sold yet,he needs to fight a durable puncher who comes to fight before I buy.

[jonnyyorkshu]

And yes he should go for the Lonsdale belt,he could win it outright in 6/9 months

[Emmseegee]

Why any professional fighter on these shores wouldnt go for a british title is beyond me. I can understand if other opportunities arrive first etc but if I were a pro then the british title would be among my dreams.

[sharpei_louis]

Agreed.
Saw an interview with Carl Froch where he was showing his belts off and the Lonsdale belt stood out a mile as being a beautiful trophy, and Froch really seemed to value it highly. If you made it to World Champion you'd be mad to have missed out on such a prestigious and significant title - especially as active as Joshua is, he could win it outright in three months with those names you've mentioned!

[leejonesjnr]

Any boxer would love to win the British title, and as they are obviously not rushing Joshua I can't imagine why they wouldn't want it for him. I feel fairly certain that he would like it himself, if he doesn't go for it then it is for business rather than sporting reasons.

[chinarich]

I would like to see him win it, but maybe not hang around for the number of defences to win it outright...

[Horse]

I would like to see him win it, but maybe not hang around for the number of defences to win it outright...

He only has to give it up if he wins a world title, so I don't see how it can hold him back.

[macaca]

It's not about the money money money ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

Lonsdale belts are for fringe domestic fighters these days, follow the cash ....

[crusader]

It's not about the money money money ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

Lonsdale belts are for fringe domestic fighters these days, follow the cash ....

Ya, I don't get excited over the Londsdale. I find it ugly on the eyes and it isn't more credible than several of the ABC titles that are commonly seen merely as trinkets.

For all the bashing of the major WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO titles they are generally much more prestigious, involve greater money, and suggest a higher level of ability, just as the EBU does. If Joshua captures the Lonsdale in roughly the next year by fighting opponents like Price, Whyte, and Chisora, good, but if it means having a series of fights against lower-tier British fighters that will obviously be no match for him....no thanks.

[lefthook82]

If he wats it then Hearn will arrange it

But I do see intergalatic wbc belts on the horizon. Dont see the rush myself. l

[Happy Slapper]

There is no need to rush AJ but at the same time I think he does need to increase the 'danger' factor in his fights but getting in with some people who can punch at least a little bit. I'm not talking one punch KO guys with serious power, but I think when prospects keep fighting nobodies, and people like Johnson (who realistaclly can't knock AJ out, and can't out-work or out-skill him to a points decision), AJ is just going to sit there and hit him all night with no fear, and that is not a good habit to get into.

The same thing happened with Khan and Prescott. Khan being over-protected then chucked in with a serious banger and got KO'd because all his fights leading up to Prescott never made him think about getting hit back and knocked out.

For me, this is the only danger with AJ as I think he is the real deal, but I think it's too early to put him in with Price for example. He needs to be buzzed but not really hurt. That is a difficult thing to aim for, but Johnson is not the man to do it IMO.

[roy]

I don't understand this argument that someone "is beyond British title level",unless they are indisputably better than everyone else in the country. Joshua against Chisora, Price , Haye or Tyson Fury would all have appeal. Joshua is actually no. 6 in the WBC ratings. Does this make him beyond anyone not in the top 10?

[Crease]

Should Anthony Joshua go for the British title?

I would say so. This upcoming fight against Johnson might help him to get a few rounds experience in. But realistically, after this I don 't think there's much more than he can learn without moving up and fighting for a credible title. So on the face of it, yeah British title next.