Joshua: Carl Froch expects Anthony Joshua to win the world title and become a huge star
Friday 8 April 2016 15:34, UK
Carl Froch expects Anthony Joshua to be crowned heavyweight world champion on Saturday and believes it will make him one of Britain's biggest sporting superstars - let alone boxers...
If Anthony Joshua wins on Saturday night he will become a real superstar.
There have been plenty of boxing stars flying the flag and a few, like Frank Bruno and Ricky Hatton, have been hugely popular. There is something different about AJ.
Everyone will stop him in the street to say hello and get their picture taken with him. They probably do already but he will go way beyond boxing fans.
Boxing is changing. When you look around the crowds these days you'll probably see different people watching it and you will certainly see more women watching it.
Is that down to the sport evolving, or is that down to Anthony Joshua? I think it's probably down to AJ.
He attracts a different kind of support. He excites people, everyone seems to love him. The Olympic gold medal helps massively and we all love a big, British heavyweight doing the business.
I remember four of five years ago, before London 2012, I met him in Sheffield and found straight away he is such a nice, polite and most importantly a humble kid.
He told me: 'Wow, Carl Froch! I remember watching that Jermain Taylor fight! I've watched it hundreds of times!' And then he was just picking my brains. All the time. Whenever we met he would ask questions and he always wanted to learn all about the sport; trainers, promoters, sponsors, the lot.
Joshua is down to earth and I think people realise that and I am fairly sure that even if he wins that world title on Saturday night, it will not change him. That is what makes him so popular.
You'll probably see different people watching it and you will certainly see more women watching it. Is that down to the sport evolving, or is that down to Anthony Joshua? I think it probably down to AJ.
And that in turn makes it so important that he wins. I think we know he is young enough and good enough to go again, but the way he is such a popular figure, I don't think any of us are thinking about what happens if he loses.
Of course, it's heavyweight boxing and anything can happen but there is one thing that often happens, that maybe AJ - and only AJ - could change if he does become world champion.
First of all in this country we love an underdog and all of a sudden he will be top dog. Then the one thing this country does when you get to the top is they pull you down. We've seen it with plenty of sportsmen, never mind boxers, but I just have a feeling if he wins, Joshua could be the one that breaks the mould.
But the one good thing is that even if AJ loses, he will come again. And he will win the world title.
Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua is live on Sky Sports Box Office on April 9. Order the event online now.
