Mark it Down: Anthony Joshua Will Make Heavyweight History

By Lyle Fitzsimmons

Want to be ahead of the boxing curve?

Go ahead and mark June 25 on your calendars.

Because the first Saturday of summer 2016 will mark the start of the heavyweight revolution.

Of course, new IBF title-holder Anthony Joshua won’t exactly prompt Ali or Louis comparisons by defending against a guy who’s as well known for being a college football quarterback as he is for being an unbeaten professional fighter. But what the unbeaten Englishman will do against Dominic Breazeale is provide a starting point for what’s certain to be a memorable tenure on the sport’s top level. 

Today, the IBF’s No. 13 contender.

Tomorrow, perhaps, a trophy case full of title belts.

The real quarry for the 2012 Olympic gold medalist comes in the forms of other current and former champions, namely Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.

Fury holds the IBO, WBA and WBO titles. Klitschko is the man who was unbeaten for more than a decade before a loss to Fury. And Wilder is the unbeaten American who won bronze in the 2008 Olympics has scored 35 KOs in 36 pro wins and carries the final puzzle piece – the WBC title belt.

The heavyweight title has not been unified since another Englishman, Lennox Lewis, reigned in 2000.

But Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, claimed his cordial relationship with other promoters would allow the fights needed to link the belts once again.

And Showtime boxing czar Stephen Espinoza, whose network will carry Joshua’s fights to the U.S. market, suggested all that’s needed from there is the willingness of the fighters.

“When two fighters truly want to fight,” he said, “there’s a way to make it happen.”

Joshua, by the way, suggests Wilder and Klitschko – and not Fury, who’ll meet the Ukrainian in a July 9 rematch – are his primary targets.   

“Klitschko because of the experience and Wilder because he’s the heavyweight champion of the world who’s defended his belt on multiple occasions,” he said. “So I have to give him credit as the strong force of the division right now because he’s the only other champion who has defended his belt. As far as Klitschko, he’s won the belt and defended it time and time again.

“Those two are the main names I’m looking at.”

Though he’s fought just 16 times, Joshua has earned his way into such lofty discussions.

The 26-year-old was nothing short of spectacular in separating pretender Charles Martin from both his championship and his senses last month in London. But far more impressive than KO’ing one of the worst belt-holders in the division’s history was the way he coolly handled the glare of the spotlight.

He looked like he enjoyed it. He looked like he belonged there.

And he looked like he’ll remain there for about as long as he’d like.

For Espinoza and the rest of the Showtime brass, making the deal with Joshua and Hearn meant locking down a guy who looks as likely as anyone to take over the role of boxing’s most recognizable A-side.

Hearn, in fact, said his specific aim was to make his man “the biggest star in world boxing.”

Joshua has already fought in England, Wales and Scotland while establishing his pulverizing brand across the United Kingdom, where his 16 fights have lasted, on average, less than two rounds apiece.

The next step, after presumably dispatching Breazeale in London, could be a U.S. invasion.

Toward that end, consider the Showtime deal as a bombing campaign before ground troops arrive.

“When I look back at my amateurs, I think that’s why I’ve had such a good career in Great Britain so far. It’s because people have been out to follow me since I was an amateur fighter,” Joshua said. “Now I get to build with the Americans. I’ve got friends out there and we’re going to build to a wider audience.

“You’re not the real deal until you fight in the States. If we can keep on building and growing organically, by the time I come out there it will be unbelievable. Just like I’m at home.”
 
Espinoza said the quest to bring Joshua to Showtime’s air began long before the dispatch of Martin, but the universally high marks the victory earned the youngster made finalizing terms a priority.

“We know he’s got all the potential in the world and we believe the U.S. audience will find him very, very interesting,” he said. “Whether he’s an all-time great remains to be seen, but he’s certainly one of the most interesting fighters today.”

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This week’s title-fight schedule:

SATURDAY
IBF bantamweight title -- Cardiff, Wales
Lee Haskins (champion/No. 8 IWBR) vs. Ivan Morales (No. 13 IBF/No. 71 IWBR)
Haskins (32-3, 14 KO): First title defense; Second fight in Wales (1-0, 0 KO)
Morales (29-1, 17 KO): First title fight; First fight scheduled for 12 rounds
Fitzbitz says: Seems like far too big a leap in class for a guy – Morales – who was beaten by a foe with 11 losses just two fights ago. The champion will begin his reign successfully. Haskins by decision

Last week’s picks: 3-1 (WIN: Alvarez, Yaegashi, Inoue; LOSS: Crolla)
2016 picks record: 31-8 (79.4 percent)
Overall picks record: 763-256 (74.8 percent)

NOTE: Fights previewed are only those involving a sanctioning body's full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, etc. Fights for WBA "world championships" are only included if no "super champion" exists in the weight class.

Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. He is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.