Anthony Joshua Reveals Sheffield Amateur Connection

By Terence Dooley

London’s IBF heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) has revealed that he has been sparring with Team GB’s finest amateur talents ahead of his maiden title defence against America’s Dominic Breazeale.

Joshua has returned to Sheffield, where he honed his amateur skills, to spar the likes of Joe Joyce and Frazer Clarke in order to ensure that he is sharp come the first bell at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night.

“Sheffield is my second home,” he admitted when speaking to Gavin Glicksman of The Sun.  “After sparring with pros for the Martin fight, going back to spar with amateurs was difficult for the first couple of weeks.  For five rounds, when I'm sparring two or three people, it was really hard to adapt.  That's why I don't take it for granted because they're like top-end professionals.”

The 26-year-old won the belt via a second-round KO of Charles Martin in April, the 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist lined up Breazeale shortly afterwards and the pair engaged in a spiky face off when announcing the fight.

Joshua’s 30-year-old challenger holds a 17-fight record, all wins with 15 KOs, and posted victories over Fred Kassi and Amir Mansour to earn his shot.  Like Martin before him, “Trouble” is talking a good fight—it now remains to be seen how he will react on the night.

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