Anthony Joshua blasts Jason Gavern away in his comeback fight
Sunday 5 April 2015 12:38, UK
Anthony Joshua brutalised Jason Gavern as he collected a third-round knockout in his return to the ring in Newcastle.
The heavyweight prospect delighted an expectant crowd at the Metro Radio Arena as he floored Gavern on four occasions with the referee stopping the fight at one minute and 27 seconds of the third period.
Joshua delivered a typically powerful performance although, in knocking Gavern down for the third time, he attracted a stern telling off after throwing a punch when his opponent was on his way down.
The unbeaten 25-year-old was forced to be patient in the opening round as Gavern kept his head ducked and showed little ambition to trade shots, but a Joshua jab almost put him down and set the tone for the remaining minutes.
A left hand earned Joshua his first knock-down before a straight-right, left-hook knock-down combination had Gavern on the canvas again.
The American bravely wobbled to his feet, intent on continuing, before saluting the fans who expected him to remain grounded.
But Joshua inflicted more damage in the third round - such was his ferocity, that one blow may have landed illegally during his third knock-down.
"He wasn't on the floor, he was holding onto my waist," Joshua said in the post-fight interview with Sky Sports.
A thunderous left hook sealed the deal just moments later as Joshua secured his winning return to the ring after a back problem had sidelined him since November.
Ring rust
“I had a bit of ring rust so couldn’t display everything I have been doing in the gym,” said Joshua. “But once the momentum gets going I will be able to display some more shots, some more sharp shooting.
“There are a lot of expectations and Jason is a very awkward opponent. He’s a slippery customer and he is there to make me look back and he did a good job of that. I have a job to do and that is get a win.
"If I can start pushing to British titles and European titles, step by step these fights won’t really mean anything when I am experienced and a champion."
Joshua - whose record improves to a perfect 11-0, all via stoppage - will next face Kevin Johnson on May 30 at London's O2 Arena.
“Johnson has same type of style as Jason," he continued. "He was a defensive puzzle to unfold but I slowly broke him down and it will be the same with Kevin Johnson.
“There are two sides to a fight, the first six and the second six. One way or another they will get broken down whether it is in the first half or second half.”
