Anthony Joshua will go head-to-head with Kevin Johnson at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of a fight on January 31 that will be AJ’s biggest test so far.
Tyson Fury is on the horizon for next summer, but AJ faces a big challenge here.
It’s been outstanding to watch him destroy all his opponents so far. We all knew he was good but no-one quite expected him to be so devastating that after 10 fights he wouldn’t have reached the fourth round.
VIDEO Scroll down for Eddie Hearn: Anthony Joshua will be first to stop Kevin Johnson
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/236A1ABD00000578-0-image-27_1417569939927.jpg" width="634" height="437" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Anthony Joshua, pictured beating Michael Sprott in the first round, face his biggest test against Kevin Johnson
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/2369C44200000578-0-image-23_1417569589545.jpg" width="634" height="425" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Joshua&#8217;s rise so far has been meteoric and the 25-year-old&#8217;s proven he&#8217;s ready for the big time
Johnson is sure to give him that test. This is a guy who has never been stopped in 36 fights – he is seriously durable. He has been in with Vitali Klitschko, Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora – none of them could stop him.
He also has a bit of a mouth on him and is a great character, which will be a new challenge for AJ. He will be called all sorts in the build-up and it will be interesting to see how AJ handles the hype.
Personally, I expect Anthony to stop him inside the distance and do what other big heavyweights failed to do.
It’s amazing that within 10 fights AJ is already the most popular heavyweight in the country. We have already sold 6,000 tickets for his fight at the O2 Arena and the fight is nine weeks away.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/0794AF34000005DC-0-image-28_1417570018832.jpg" width="634" height="308" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Johnson has never been stopped in his 36 fights, including this one against Vitali Klitschko (right)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/06F81B9D00000514-0-image-26_1417569623980.jpg" width="634" height="449" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
England&#8217;s Dereck Chisora (right) couldn&#8217;t stop the incredibly durable American either
We are moving towards the inevitable, which is a fight with Fury and the other top domestic fighters. It&#8217;s going to be great times for British boxing.
I watched the main event from the show at the ExCel at the weekend and I have to say Fury-Chisora was one of the dullest heavyweight fights I have seen. With the fight starting well past midnight and many missing their transportation home, boos rang out after only a few rounds as the crowds started to disperse.
Fury is a great character and a quality fighter but do you really see him coping with Anthony’s power, speed and work rate? Do you not think Anthony would have blasted Chisora out of there far earlier?
People ask if AJ is ready to fight Fury but, to be honest, is Fury ready to fight AJ? I believe this is a fight that will bring both men to new levels in terms of financial rewards. It&#8217;s a numbers game and these numbers add up.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/23AC462F00000578-0-image-31_1417570157683.jpg" width="634" height="473" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
A heavyweight clash between AJ and heavyweight title contender Tyson Fury may happen in 2015
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/239AEF7B00000578-0-image-29_1417570091252.jpg" width="634" height="417" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Fury and Chisora&#8217;s fight at London&#8217;s Excel was one of the dullest heavyweight fights I have seen
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/239D4A4B00000578-0-image-32_1417570224319.jpg" width="634" height="433" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
While Chisora didn&#8217;t come out for the 11th round, AJ would have got him out of the ring earlier
I’m currently planning the next move for Tony Bellew after he got his revenge over Nathan Cleverly. We all expected fireworks and unfortunately the main event just didn’t live up to it.
But Tony did what he had to do and now has a great future in front of him – I’m in talks with both Marco Huck and Yoan Hernandez about cruiserweight world-title fights with Tony.
The rest of the division know that he sells. The numbers from the weekend were very good and that makes him commercially attractive to all of them.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/236CC58B00000578-2858466-Cruiserweight_world_title_fights_against_Marco_Huck_or_Yoan_Hern-1_1417591256100.jpg" width="634" height="404" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Cruiserweight world title fights against Marco Huck or Yoan Hernandez could be on the cards for Tony Bellew
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/236CC4C900000578-2858466-Cruiserweight_world_title_fights_against_Marco_Huck_or_Yoan_Hern-2_1417591256105.jpg" width="634" height="413" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
The next move for Bellew is being planned after he did what he had to do to beat Nathan Cleverly (left)
At the moment, it looks like his next fight will be for a world title in the spring. We are already in discussions with Huck, the WBO champion from Germany, and I can reveal we are also talking to Hernandez, the Cuban who has the IBF belt.
We have seen the city of Liverpool get behind Tony and I am in talks about putting on a fight for him at Goodison Park. The question is whether we could get one of the world champions to fight over here.
From that point of view, Hernandez seems more willing to travel, so we’ll wait and see how it pans out in the next few weeks.
I can reveal here that I am close to securing a world title rematch for Paul Smith against Arthur Abraham. Hopefully it will all be finalised in the next few days.
Smith lost a hugely contentious points decision in the first fight in September and now he will likely have his second chance in Berlin on February 21.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/21B9DE1700000578-2858466-image-38_1417570687263.jpg" width="634" height="401" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
A Paul Smith-Arthur Abraham rematch is likely to be confirmed for February 21 in the next few days
The fight that shifted the tickets on Saturday was Billy Joe Saunders versus Chris Eubank Jnr.
The fight was close and competitive but technically it was poor, with Saunders winning by a couple of rounds.
When your dad is telling everyone that you’d beat Gennady Golovkin and that you’re the best since Sugar Ray Leonard, you are already in a no-win situation.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/239E3CF200000578-2858466-image-40_1417570747993.jpg" width="634" height="420" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Billy Joe Saunders celebrates his points victory over Chris Eubank Junior at the Excel on Saturday
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/239B739400000578-2858466-image-42_1417570805387.jpg" width="634" height="420" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
The Saunders (right) and Eubank Jnr bout was close and competitive but technically it was poor
Those claims have put Eubank Jnr in an awkward position as, to be honest, he looked like a talented novice.
In the ring it was a bit strange. When he really needed direction from his corner, there was none. I thought he could have been better served because clearly he is a talented fighter.
If he started quicker and put more pressure on from the early rounds, I think he would have got the win.
Billy Joe will now go on to fight for world honours, but you have to respect Eubank Jnr – he took a huge risk for short money. Forgetting the noise around him, he is a talented fighter and I&#8217;m sure he will come again.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/239AD63600000578-2858466-image-3_1417594178159.jpg" width="634" height="437" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
When your dad is telling everyone you’re the best since Sugar Ray Leonard, you are in a no-win situation
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/03/239AD67200000578-2858466-image-44_1417570868505.jpg" width="634" height="419" data-gallery-handler-attached="true" />
Eubank Jnr throws a big right, which Saunders manages to evade, in his defeat but he will come again
I flew to LA last week to speak to Al Haymon about making a number of huge fights and also about staging fights in the US.
The talks were extremely productive and I should have some exciting news on that front soon.
The always popular Prizefighter series returns to Sky Sports this Saturday and you can expect fireworks from this exciting line up.
Eight lightweights battle it out for the £32,000 first prize &#8211; it&#8217;s a fascinating line up with experienced former domestic champs Gary Buckland and Stephen Foster Jnr the favourites &#8211; look out for the lively young Irishman Jono Carroll who is all action!
Also on the bill one of our top young fighters Martin J Ward takes on Maxi Hughes in a super-featherweight eliminator. It&#8217;s a cracking little fight &#8211; we have high hopes for Ward and expect him to shine bright.

Anthony Joshua will be first to stop Kevin Johnson in 36 fights but mouthy American is sure to be AJ’s toughest challenge so far… both in and out of the ring

Xyno.Online

Sports

News

Animals

Babies

Anthony Joshua will be first to stop Kevin Johnson in 36 fights but mouthy American is sure to be AJ’s toughest challenge so far… both in and out of the ring