By Edward Chaykovsky
IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs) is very motivated to build his name in the United States in the near future.
He wants to follow the path of other UK fighters who made statements by fighting in the United States - like Lennox Lewis, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Amir Khan, and Naseem Hamed.
First up for Joshua is the biggest fight is his pro career, when he collides with Wladimir Klitschko before an expected crowd of 90,000 fans at a sold-out Wembley stadium on April 29. The vacant IBO, WBA titles are also going to be on the line.
The one boxer who is fully on Joshua's radar is WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs), who is scheduled to return on February 25in Alabama. Wilder's opponent fell out on Tuesday after Andrzej Wawrzyk tested positive for a banned substance during a random pre-fight drug test.
Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, will be coming to the United States to promote the upcoming fight with Klitschko. Joshua has an exclusive television deal with Showtime.
"Fingers crossed that I beat Klitschko, then we can look down the line to competing in America against the likes of Wilder. He's been bubbling nicely stateside. He's on my radar and adds to an exciting mix. I've been watching him for a long time and he is very talented, an Olympian who came into the game late but managed to stamp his authority on the sport," Joshua told Sky Sports.
"The United States is the mecca of boxing and we are trying to build an American audience, a bit like Hatton, Lewis and Hamed managed to do. You've got the UK market and then the other territory is America. I am going there soon to promote and build the Klitschko fight and see the interest. I want it all, I want the attention and live for the glory nights. We are building stuff all the time so we won't be denied when agreeing these big fights."