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When does everyone think Anthony Joshua will be knocking for the British title. Because I saw this in Eddie Hearn's column in the Daily Mail

The progression from here is key. On March 1 in Glasgow, AJ will face his most experienced foe yet in Argentinian Hector Avila, who went nine rounds with Chisora last year. From there he will fight in Manchester on April 19 and in May or June I would like him to fight someone of the calibre of Michael Sprott or Sam Sexton. There is no reason why that fight shouldn’t be for the British title.

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Thoughts on this?

It's fast progress but I think he is capable of beating those guys this summer. If Eddie can get the British title on the line, that would be impressive work.

Avila going the 9 rounds with Chisora won't count for much, Joshua will smash him. Seeing these plans for Joshua - which are quite realistic really - must be quite sobering for the more established heavyweights like David Price. He is spending the best part of 2014 re-establishing himself, by the time that has happened, Joshua could have overtaken him.

I'm going to sound like a broken record I think but...Joshua is fighting a short, stubby, 38 year old with 11 stoppage losses from 38 bouts. The guy may have gone 9 with a disinterested Chisora but lets not forget how much we were slating Chisora for merely going through the motions that night. It wasn't so much "going 9 with Chisora" but more "lasting 9 rounds with a guy who couldn't give an eff".

Since the loss to Chisora, Avila has gone 2-2 with stoppages losses to Irineu Beato Costa Junior (in 1 round) and Marcelo Fabian Dominguez (in 7).

Lets put those losses into perspective. Costa Junior is widely regarded as "that fat Brazilian Heavyweight" whilst Dominguez is a 44 year old former Cruiserweight champion (circa 1996).

Is it just me or does AJ look like he would fail a piss test????

i'd say forget about titles and anything like that for now and focus on being busy and getting rounds! so many fighters get stuck later in their career because they dont have that kind of experience and right now that seems to be the only thing joshua doesnt have!

but their team obviously knows the best way to go about things. and as far as the guys you mentioned, theirs no reason he cant be fighting and beating them by the end of the year if hes good enough! im sure they'll step him up in some way by the summer at the rate they are talking about it!

Omerta wrote:Is it just me or does AJ look like he would fail a piss test????

He won gold at the Olympics so his been tested many, many times

belowthebelt wrote:i'd say forget about titles and anything like that for now and focus on being busy and getting rounds! so many fighters get stuck later in their career because they dont have that kind of experience and right now that seems to be the only thing joshua doesnt have!

but their team obviously knows the best way to go about things. and as far as the guys you mentioned, theirs no reason he cant be fighting and beating them by the end of the year if hes good enough! im sure they'll step him up in some way by the summer at the rate they are talking about it!

I don't imagine he'll get rounds against Avila. He needs experience building fights but doesn't seem to be getting them.

I'll admit I was disappointed in the fact that the Welsh bloke he fought came in at a career high weight as well.

He seems to have put on 12.5 pounds of muscle since his last fight in mid November very impressive strength and conditioning.

This is a bit below the belt. The guy is fortunate enough to have natural muscle size, and fortunate enough to have that sort of athletic growth ability.

Is your insinuation that he's on something based purely on his appearance and his weight growth in recent months ? That would be a case of putting two and two together and getting seven. This guy is an Olympic champ, the last thing he needs to do is anything like that.

Like I say, below the belt.

JimJim2009 wrote:This is a bit below the belt. The guy is fortunate enough to have natural muscle size, and fortunate enough to have that sort of athletic growth ability.

Is your insinuation that he's on something based purely on his appearance and his weight growth in recent months ? That would be a case of putting two and two together and getting seven. This guy is an Olympic champ, the last thing he needs to do is anything like that.

Like I say, below the belt.

His strength and conditioning must be excellent because he's managed to recover from his torn muscle injury and put on 12.5 pounds of muscle in ten weeks.

If anything I think he's bulking up too much it seemed to effect his speed against Darch.

A few hundred years ago people used to stand there, look out to the horizon, and conclude that the earth must be flat.

I'm still undecided on Joshua. He looks excellent so far but I feel he is more Frank Bruno than Lennox Lewis.

I don't really know much about this opponent but hopefully he will last longer than the standard couple of rounds and we may get a glimpse of how 'conditioned' Joshua actually is. I'd also like to see how he goes when somebody does hit him on the chin.

I don't mind the low risk, take it slow approach with Joshua as he seems to need a bit more work. His footwork and head movement are non existent and he has a lazy defence. He hasn't needed those skills as yet but they definitely need improving. His jab is awesome and he has big power with decent speed.

Will be a fun year watching his progress.

I don't think he will be fighting for a British title in his 6th fight. I reckon he will have 3 or 4 more before entertaining a shot at the British.

Eddie is just chatting.

london wrote:
His strength and conditioning must be excellent because he's managed to recover from his torn muscle injury and put on 12.5 pounds of muscle in ten weeks.

If anything I think he's bulking up too much it seemed to effect his speed against Darch.

From what AJ said on the Bunce podcast before Xmas it didn't seem his shoulder injury was serious as a torn muscle

lillywhite14 wrote:I don't think he will be fighting for a British title in his 6th fight. I reckon he will have 3 or 4 more before entertaining a shot at the British.

Eddie is just chatting.

I will go for the same maybe a little longer as well. The progress is in the right direction with the wins etc, just someone to take him some rounds though.

I think the body beautiful thing can go too far. I think Brino effectively ended up looking great at mid-17 stone, but was even more lumbering and ungainly than he was at 16 and a half. Stamina could likewise end up being an issue with Joshua if that lactic acid builds up over 12 rounds.

Anthony may be a paper pro novice but the truth is far different.
His work at the Institute of Sport prior to the Olympics was better than most pros would ever get.
Anthony is looking at 10 fights in 2014 so you've got to say sometime this year it's title time.

Parson Cross wrote:Anthony may be a paper pro novice but the truth is far different.
His work at the Institute of Sport prior to the Olympics was better than most pros would ever get.
Anthony is looking at 10 fights in 2014 so you've got to say sometime this year it's title time.

I agree that he could well be going for the British sometime late in the year/early next year, but just not in his 6th fight as Eddie is suggesting. I don't think Joshua will be getting in ith Sprott after his next fight for example.

lillywhite14 wrote:

Parson Cross wrote:Anthony may be a paper pro novice but the truth is far different.
His work at the Institute of Sport prior to the Olympics was better than most pros would ever get.
Anthony is looking at 10 fights in 2014 so you've got to say sometime this year it's title time.

I agree that he could well be going for the British sometime late in the year/early next year, but just not in his 6th fight as Eddie is suggesting. I don't think Joshua will be getting in ith Sprott after his next fight for example.

Eddie has been talking about possibly fighting Tyson by the end of the year!

Its just chat.

Joshua will fight Fury after Wlad has given him a hiding.

They're right bastards those Promotors aren't they ? You know, Promoting !

Parson Cross wrote:They're right bastards those Promotors aren't they ? You know, Promoting !

I know. That's why they get the fighters to sell their own tickets...

All about levels young man.
If you think Anthony has to sell tickets ......I'll buy yours for the funny farm.

Parson Cross wrote:All about levels young man.
If you think Anthony has to sell tickets ......I'll buy yours for the funny farm.

That wasnt my point mate.

Which was ?