Anthony Joshua: If I beat Wilder, they’ll say he’s s**t

By James Slater - 09/16/2016 - Comments

Unbeaten heavyweight star (some say future superstar) Anthony Joshua says he is finding it hard getting respect. Already a huge name in the UK, Joshua’s many fans pay to see him fight, fully expecting him to win by KO, and then afterwards the critics say Joshua merely bowled over an opponent he was always going to beat anyway. This is how A.J, 17-0(17) and yet to be extended beyond the 7th-round, says he feels.

Speaking with City AM, the IBF heavyweight champ who is now in training for his second title defence, set for November 26 in Manchester, says it is tough when people are comparing him to the likes of Tyson, Ali and Holyfield.

“With boxing, people say ‘A.J’s gonna beat him, he’s gonna knock him out.’ and then when you do it they say, ‘Ah, he’s a bum anyway.’ It’s like, what can I do?” Joshua said. “In boxing it’s so hard because our comparisons are are the likes of Tyson, Ali, Holyfield. These great, great, beyond iconic, beyond legendary athletes that they compare myself to and ask: ‘Is he going to be that great?’ To get that respect in boxing you have to do something that’s out of this world. If I beat someone like Wilder, they’ll say he’s s**t.”

Big things are indeed expected of Joshua, but that’s part of the game – and of course, Joshua is being paid handsomely for his efforts. Should Joshua step up his quality of opposition – as he will have to in due course – and keep on winning, the critics will back off. A win over Wilder would possibly get Joshua more respect than he feels it would; a KO win especially.

Until he moves up past the Charles Martins and the Dominic Breazeales of the world, of course the jury is going to be out on Joshua. Let’s hope the exciting and talented Olympic gold medal winner steps it up class-wise in his second defence in November. There is still no official word yet on who the challenger will be in Manchester.