Jamie Moore discusses Anthony Joshua, Kevin Mitchell, Lee Selby and terrible trash talk

Jamie Moore believes Anthony Joshua can land a world title shot ahead of schedule, praises Kevin Mitchell's bravery, and tips Lee Selby to become a Welsh hero.

How quickly can Anthony Joshua be moved towards a world title? 

It’s going to get to the point of 'what more can he do?', especially if he keeps progressing at the same pace. He will have to be fast-tracked and it’s not ideal, but what else can you do in that situation? There aren’t many people that are going to give him rounds. He would benefit more from five or six competitive rounds before a win, rather than 12 rounds with someone who survives and gets to the end. You don’t learn anything more about him from those kind of fights.

He will have to be fast-tracked and it’s not ideal, but what else can you do in that situation?

Mariusz Wach would stand there and have a go, he’s tough, was hurt in his defeat by Wladimir Klitschko and came back and survived. He would be a good shout. Tony Thompson is a big tall southpaw who would cause him problems and different things to think about.

He definitely needs moving up in class and to face fighters who are going to ask questions of him.

Did Kevin Mitchell suffer some of the worst injuries you have ever seen?

It was a horrendous eye injury, the swelling was the worst part of it. You don’t usually get really bad swelling when there is a cut like that, so it was surprising to see it swell up.

In the eighth round, Jorge Linares landed a couple of stiff jabs on Kevin’s nose and it started bleeding. You could just see the fight starting to slip away from him. Then Linares got him with a couple of right hands over that top, right in his eye and it caused that swelling.

You couldn’t help but feel for him. He had two attempts for a world title and did not apply himself properly, but you could see in this fight, he was prepared mentally and physically. It was a cruel ending for him.

Should we expect a Miguel Cotto masterclass against Daniel Geale this weekend?

Daniel Geale is a slippery customer and I know that Gennady Golovkin did a brilliant job when he stopped him, but he’s not the easiest person to get hold of. Darren Barker really had to dig deep against him and that was his crowning glory. Geale is awkwardly effective and is a much naturally bigger fighter than Miguel Cotto. He could be in for a tough, awkward night’s work.

Cotto is not getting any younger, he put in a great performance against Sergio Martinez, but he got him at the right time. Geale will think that he has something to prove after the Golovkin defeat and it’s a massive opportunity for him. I think Cotto wins, but I think he wins on points in a competitive fight.

Can Lee Selby become one of the most successful fighters from Wales?

I think he can go right to the very top. Obviously Joe Calzaghe is head and shoulders above any other Welsh fighter, his achievements speak for themselves. It’s early days and let’s not put too much pressure on him. Pressure can either make you or break you.

He produced an absolute masterclass against Evgeny Gradovich and he really impressed me. Not just winning the fight, but the way he won and the ease in which he did it.

We all said the way to beat Selby was to take him past six rounds and start to push him. He’s so big, so you would see how tight he is at the weight, see if his stamina would be effective, but that certainly wasn’t the case. He was punch perfect.

Selby is a great addition to the featherweight division and can potentially become one of the best fighters that have been produced from Wales. 

Will Kevin Johnson be regretting his trash talk?

That was the perfect way to silence an opponent. If someone like Kevin Johnson is talking like that before a fight, as a fighter you want to prove him wrong and put him in his place. Anthony Joshua emphatically did that and if Johnson hasn’t got a good thing to say about Joshua now, then he never will do.