Joshua: Whose footsteps is Anthony Joshua set to follow?
Tuesday 5 April 2016 22:58, UK
Anthony Joshua could follow some of boxing's most illustrious footsteps if he beats Charles Martin and is crowned heavyweight champion of the world.
His London Olympic gold medal came at super-heavyweight, a weight which was introduced in 1984 to cope with the changing size of boxing's heaviest contenders, and the elite fighters to have done the double since are huge in stature.
Prior to 1984 two all-time greats won Olympic gold at heavyweight - then the highest weight class - and went on to win a world title. We look at the three super-heavyweight successes and of course two iconic heavyweight heroes Joshua could be joining...
Alexander Povetkin
Povetkin was the star of a Russian boxing team that finished second in the medal table in Athens behind the amateur kings of Cuba. It might have taken him almost seven years to the day to add a world heavyweight title to his super-heavyweight gold, but taking on Ruslan Chagaev for the vacant WBA title was only his 22nd fight as a professional.
Povetkin claimed a unanimous decision and strolled past his next four challengers, stopping Hasim Rahman in two and ruining Marco Huck's attempt to succeed outside the cruiserweight domain.
His confidence grew but when he took on Wladimir Klitschko in a unification fight, Povetkin was not the first or last to be stifled into a draining submission, losing his WBA belt on points as 'Dr Steelhammer' kept hold of his WBA Super, WBO and IBF belts over 12 grim rounds.
Povetkin now has a chance to redeem himself when he takes on WBC holder Deontay Wilder in Moscow on May 21.
Wladimir Klitschko
If there is one heavyweight who has matched, smashed or made records over the last 25 years, it is Klitschko.
He became Ukraine's first ever Olympic boxing gold medallist, but only made the Atlanta team after his brother Vitali was omitted. He breezed through to take gold and did the same for the next four years as a professional before avenging Vitali's defeat to Chris Byrd and winning the WBO title.
Wladimir went on to methodically beat the best and dominate the heavyweight division. His fifth defence prevented 1984 Olympic super-heavyweight winner Ray Mercer doing the double but the dream would turn sour as he lost to Corrie Sanders and then Lamon Brewster.
Yet a return to America saw him beat Samuel Peter in a WBO and IBF eliminator to set up a rematch with Byrd. Redemption came in seven rounds, his third reign as a world champion began and 17 undefeated defences were to follow. Enter Tyson Fury...
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis' dual-nationality saw him win the super-heavyweight gold for Canada but 'The Lion' roared his way to the very top of the professional ranks flying the Union Jack loud and proud.
The script got off to a bad start in 1984 when he lost in the quarter-finals to Tyrell Biggs, who was the reigning Olympic champion but failed to win a professional world title thanks to none other than Mike Tyson three years later. Lewis, though, took centre stage in 1988, beating Riddick Bowe to claim gold, something that even 'Big Daddy' doesn't have on his resume. And there was never to be a professional rematch despite at least three attempts from both camps.
'The Lion' even beat Bowe to the world title, needing just 23 fights and putting Tony Tucker down twice before claiming the WBC strap in Las Vegas. The first defence against Frank Bruno will remain a memorable night, but the third was anything but lucky as Lewis lost his belt to Oliver McCall. Revenge is of course best served cold and in 1997 Lewis regained the belt.
He soon turned into a Hollywood star and despite losing to Hasim Rahman, Lewis ended his reign as a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
George Foreman
George Foreman won his Olympic gold at heavyweight before beating Joe Frazier to add a world title to his name.
If you thought amateur boxing is about scoring points and picking off your opponent, 'Big George' proved that when it comes to the big guys, knocking them out is still the best way to win. Ironically, Foreman's first three-rounder in Mexico City saw him win on points but he followed that up by flattening his next three foes, blasting out Jonas Cepulis in two to strike gold.
It may have taken Foreman 33 professional fights to add the world heavyweight title to his collection but when you realise he did it in just four years - like Anthony Joshua could - it proves his power was supreme. Only three of Foreman's first 32 fights went the distance and 27 of them lasted fewer than three rounds.
The 'Rumble in the Jungle' with Muhammad Ali ended his first reign but an unbelievable 20 years later, Foreman beat Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight world champion - and even that came via a stoppage.
Joe Frazier
The late, great Joe Frazier may well be forever overshadowed by Ali and Foreman but he will go down in heavyweight history as the first fighter to win Olympic gold and a professional world title. It may have been done quicker by Povetkin and Lewis since, but back in his day 'Smokin Joe' had fewer routes to choose.
He had to head out to Japan to do the first part of the double and was the USA's solitary boxing gold medalist, stopping three of his four victims despite his modest height of 5ft 11in.
Frazier turned pro and walloped his way through the American scene, seeing off Buster Mathis, Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry before fight No 25 saw him take on Jimmy Ellis, who had just taken the WBC from Floyd Patterson. It only took him four rounds to win but it was not just that rare double that stands out, because his second defence saw him beat the one and only Ali in the Fight of the Century.
Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua, live on Sky Sports Box Office on April 9, is available to order via online.
