Carl Froch: Anthony Joshua is the real deal and will be world champion
Olympian is mixture of heavyweight greats
Friday 8 May 2015 18:22, UK
Anthony Joshua can emulate some of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing history and become a dominant world champion.
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That's the view of British boxing hero Carl Froch, who believes Joshua’s potential will see him climb to the pinnacle of the sport.
The heavyweight prospect boasts 11 consecutive professional stoppages and fights for the 12th time on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports 2 against Raphael Zumbano Love in Birmingham.
And multi-time world champion Froch has no doubts his countryman will go on to achieve similar feats inside the ring.
“He’s the real deal and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t win numerous world titles," Froch told Lonsdale.
“I think Anthony Joshua is the real thing. You’re always going to have question marks when people come through. But he is strong, he’s got the right mindset and he can take a punch.
“He’s got the mentality of a winner and a hard worker and a grafter. He’s got that natural instinct.”
I think he’s a mould of two or three fighters. He has that Mike Tyson instinct, that mean streak. But he boxes and moves like the Klitschkos do. He uses his jab and he’s got that ring presence of Lennox Lewis.
Froch, whose own ring future is in question after he was stripped of his WBA title just months after vacating the IBF belt, is reminded of some of boxing’s top heavyweights when he watches Joshua.
“He’s very, very athletic like Frank Bruno, but Bruno was almost an engineered fighter, he wasn’t very natural. Anthony Joshua has got a lot of natural ability," said Froch.
“I think he’s a mould of two or three fighters. He has that Mike Tyson instinct, that mean streak. But he boxes and moves like the Klitschkos do. He uses his jab and he’s got that ring presence of Lennox Lewis – that domination from round one.
“He’s a mixture of all different fighters which is another reason why I think he’s destined to be a world champion.”
Watch Anthony Joshua on Live Fight Night on Saturday on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7.30pm.
