Jessica Ennis maybe the poster girl for London 2012 and in the forefront of most peoples’ consciousness when choosing their favoured British athlete for the Olympics. However, there is a boxing colossus hailing from North London, who, well after the Olympic flame makes its circuitous route to Rio, will be talked about in the same reverential terms as our beloved heptathlon.
You cannot but be impressed by Anthony Joshua. At 6ft 6in he’s built like a NFL linebacker but moves in the ring as if was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing – with grace and poise. These commendable assets are accompanied by a left hook that Joe Frazier would be proud of – and ‘Smoking Joe’ had a great left hook!
These skills were in ample evidence when Joshua claimed a silver medal at the World Amateur Championships in October 2011, after losing a thrilling final by a point. Along the way the super-heavyweight defeated Italy’s double and reigning Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle.
Having guaranteed his place in the GB Boxing team, the 22-year-old is not short of confidence when it comes to his prospects at next summer’s Olympics. He said: I’m made for it. I am not overwhelmed by it. Sometimes I think this is what I was supposed to do. I will deal with it all right. I feel I am heading in the right direction.”
Surprisingly, he cites Audley Harrison – who won Olympic gold in 2000 – as an inspiration figure and one of the reasons why he took up the sport just 4 years ago.
“A lot of people have got bad things to say about Audley but for British Boxing he opened up so many gates. I know he didn’t do too well as a pro but he was an ABA, Commonwealth and Olympic champion as a boxer and he is British.”
Regarding his boxing future after the games, the Londoner is in no hurry to make a decisive decision just yet about turning professional.
He said: "I cannot buy the experience I am getting now. As soon as I turn pro I have no other options. I want to get the most out of my amateur career. I am going to an Olympics and then if I was going to turn pro I would have done everything I could as an amateur. I don’t want to rush anything.
“If turning pro is the best thing for me at the time I’ll do it but if going to Rio for the 2016 Olympics and staying amateur is then I would do that.”
Whatever career choice Joshua makes, it seems inevitable that his name is guaranteed to be on the lips of most sporting aficionados before, during and well after Olympics have come to a close.
No comments:
Post a Comment