Anthony Joshua isn't scheduled to fight Sprott any more

[ILikeBeer]

Pity. I quite like Michael Sprott.

[Horse]

I'd prefer Sprott as an opponent for Joshua rather than Bakhtov.

[Benelio]

Pity. I quite like Michael Sprott.

Same here. Seems like he's been around forever. A couple of times he's come in heavy and looked like he's been in journeyman mode when fighting some prospects in the last 5 years, but perhaps it's just that he's taken a lot of fights at short notice.

[black panther]

He'll get a bit more mileage out of Bakhtov one would hope.

Sprott was chinny at the best of times but these days even more so.

[gobbles]

I wish Michael would retire. He is 39 now, 11 years since he was sparked by Danny. That is a lot of heavyweight rounds and an awful lot of rounds sparring.

[jameswilson]

It's just that he isn't going to fight Sprott in his next two fights. He is still apparently going to have 2 more fights after Airich and Bakhtov and one of those will apparently be Michael Sprott.

Right now if it is a choice between Bakhtov and Sprott I favour Bakhtov because he is more durable. Joshua needs to be extended beyond 5 rounds and Michael Sprott would not do that in my opinion.

[gobbles]

It's just that he isn't going to fight Sprott in his next two fights. He is still apparently going to have 2 more fights after Airich and Bakhtov and one of those will apparently be Michael Sprott.

Right now if it is a choice between Bakhtov and Sprott I favour Bakhtov because he is more durable. Joshua needs to be extended beyond 5 rounds and Michael Sprott would not do that in my opinion.

Being cynical, if the winner of Fury v Chisora drops the British title, they might hope to make Sprott fight for that.

[Horse]

Sprott is still a top 5 ranked British heavyweight.

Joshua should fight him soon.

[jameswilson]

It's just that he isn't going to fight Sprott in his next two fights. He is still apparently going to have 2 more fights after Airich and Bakhtov and one of those will apparently be Michael Sprott.

Right now if it is a choice between Bakhtov and Sprott I favour Bakhtov because he is more durable. Joshua needs to be extended beyond 5 rounds and Michael Sprott would not do that in my opinion.

Being cynical, if the winner of Fury v Chisora drops the British title, they might hope to make Sprott fight for that.

Nah the winner of Lewison v Cornish will have to be involved as that fight is a final eliminator.

[gobbles]

It's just that he isn't going to fight Sprott in his next two fights. He is still apparently going to have 2 more fights after Airich and Bakhtov and one of those will apparently be Michael Sprott.

Right now if it is a choice between Bakhtov and Sprott I favour Bakhtov because he is more durable. Joshua needs to be extended beyond 5 rounds and Michael Sprott would not do that in my opinion.

Being cynical, if the winner of Fury v Chisora drops the British title, they might hope to make Sprott fight for that.

Nah the winner of Lewison v Cornish will have to be involved as that fight is a final eliminator.

if that happens

[rio]

He's fighting Him In December

[ScottDetonator]

I don't know why Joshua has to have a list of opponents all ready made, his next 3 fights all planned? He could seriously take his eye off the ball. Should be taking each fight as it comes but we know, Matchroom need his name to sell tickets. I really don't like this approach to be honest.

One test at a time, not months of thinking 'who am I fighting after this one Eddie?'...

[jameswilson]

I don't know why Joshua has to have a list of opponents all ready made, his next 3 fights all planned? He could seriously take his eye off the ball. Should be taking each fight as it comes but we know, Matchroom need his name to sell tickets. I really don't like this approach to be honest.

One test at a time, not months of thinking 'who am I fighting after this one Eddie?'...

I prefer it to opponents getting 3 weeks notice personally. I'm sure Anthony has the mental strength to concentrate on one fight at a time.

[london]

I don't know why Joshua has to have a list of opponents all ready made, his next 3 fights all planned? He could seriously take his eye off the ball. Should be taking each fight as it comes but we know, Matchroom need his name to sell tickets. I really don't like this approach to be honest.

One test at a time, not months of thinking 'who am I fighting after this one Eddie?'...

Agreed I really believe he has his hands full with Konstanin Airich and should be fully focused on this.

[Sklar]

I understand what people are saying about one fight at a time but if he's good enough and professonal enough it shouldn't matter if his entire career path is mapped out ahead of time. He'll still either win, lose or draw. Should he come a cropper, plot a new course.

[lillywhite14]

I think Airich, Bahktov and Sprott won't last 10 rounds combined.

[MarkMcBurney]

Sprott is still a top 5 ranked British heavyweight.

Joshua should fight him soon.

Joshua is already number three IMO (assuming we aren't counting David Haye again).

I'd love to see Joshua v Ian Lewison, that would be a real test.

[MarkMcBurney]

I understand what people are saying about one fight at a time but if he's good enough and professonal enough it shouldn't matter if his entire career path is mapped out ahead of time. He'll still either win, lose or draw. Should he come a cropper, plot a new course.

This is a good point and I heard a good interview with Paulie Malignaggi about this sort of thing recently. The process for fighters in America is generally (Deontay Wilder aside, it would seem!) for them to fight the best out there as soon as possible so they don't stagnate, you don't generally see 'gimme' fights for American world champions for example to keep busy. The gist of what Paulie was saying is that essentially you don't know how good a fighter is until you put him in that position. Look at George Groves; a lot of people were saying Froch would spark him out in a couple of rounds and he wasn't world class etc, that was proven to be incorrect, and he showed he belongs in the top category at SMW by stepping up to a level he hadn't got anywhere near before.

I say Joshua needs to be fighting big names ASAP, and as you say, plot a new course if he does lose. Didn't do Mike Tyson much harm, statistically there are very, very, very few fighters who will remain unbeaten, and most that do lose, say they learn most from those fights. David Haye being a perfect example.

Joshua v Lewison soon, test him, and them if he wins, get him in with the fringe world class fighters, the loser of Fury/Chisora for example.

[Bodyshot3]

.......Eddie seems to be moving AJ at a fairly brisk pace, he was talking to the Boxing News guys this week and to paraphrase him slightly he seemed to be saying "he's ready for a step-up right now and we are not going to waste time with marking time fights." I am guessing those 20 rounds with Wlad out in Austria must have been a useful way to gauge AJ's progress.

As much as I like Michael S; I'd like to see AJ fight a fellow young gun like Hughie Fury, Lewison or Cornish for the British title. Facing another young Brit on the way-up with plenty of energy and attitude and something important on the line would be a good test for him. Ian Lewison would be good and I am expecting him to beat Cornish.

[Horse]

Joshua is already number three IMO (assuming we aren't counting David Haye again).

I'd love to see Joshua v Ian Lewison, that would be a real test.

He might be No. 3 based on ability, but he's only 7th in my rankings.

[MarkMcBurney]

Joshua is already number three IMO (assuming we aren't counting David Haye again).

I'd love to see Joshua v Ian Lewison, that would be a real test.

He might be No. 3 based on ability, but he's only 7th in my rankings.

Bit of a contradiction...

[ScottDetonator]

I say Joshua needs to be fighting big names ASAP, and as you say, plot a new course if he does lose.

What do you class as a big name though? Pulev? Povetkin? Tony Thompson??

I wouldn't jump levels overnight and then say, if he loses he'll learn a lot from it. Look at Pricey, he'd still be unbeaten now and massively in the game if he'd not faced Thompson.

When you get a talent such as AJ's, it needs to be looked after and gradually stepped up. Build the confidence up, that only comes with experience. He is Matchroom's golden egg and they are doing a good job of matchmaking with him, my only gripe being one fight at a time.

Joshua needs rounds, not a loss. The aura of being unbeaten at HW and the mental, positive power that brings is priceless and that can be said about any sport in general.

[Bard of Boxrec]

He's fighting Him In December

Joshua is fighting...our lord and saviour Michael Sprott?

[danconnollyeire]

Joshua is already number three IMO (assuming we aren't counting David Haye again).

I'd love to see Joshua v Ian Lewison, that would be a real test.

He might be No. 3 based on ability, but he's only 7th in my rankings.

Bit of a contradiction...

Rankings aren't based on ability

[UrbanFox]

In his latest interview with IFL tv on youtube, Hearn does mention Sprott. He clearly states that Joshua we will 3 fights by the end of the year (Airich, Bakhtov & Sprott). Regarding Sprott, I think - but can't remember it vividly - he mentions a fight in December.
Then there's the usual IFL chatter where Hearn implies that Joshua will fight for the vacant British title and he would like to set it up in the summer in Vicarage Road (Watford's stadium). He boats that whoever will win the eliminator would take on Joshua as it would be 'huge money' (no comment).
That did surprise me as in an other video, he claims that Joshua would be ready for a world title by the end of 2015. How on earth can he be ready and ranked high enough if he finishes the year with Sprott (if all goes well that is) AND has a British title fight in an open area in the summer of 2015? Surely Hearn will not risk him with the likes of Tony Thompson (if he is not retired by then) or a top 15 fighter before his 'megafight' in the summer?

Very confusing.