Holyfield Believes Anthony Joshua Could Break Marciano's Record

By Terence Dooley

Forget Floyd Mayweather, Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) could break Rocky Marciano’s long-standing 49-0 record, according to former cruiserweight and heavyweight world Champion Evander Holyfield.

The former fighter believes that, given his current rate of progression, the 26-year-old Londoner could race to the 49-fight mark without incurring a defeat.  “You've always got to find someone who wants to break records, and Anthony Joshua wants to do that,” he said when speaking to The Sunday Telegraph’s Gareth A. Davies.

“What if Don King hadn't done what he did for Mike Tyson?  Tyson wouldn't be the youngest heavyweight champion in history.  He was the youngest because Don King gave him that opportunity.

“Some people don't want any records broken.  But it's progress.  I won my first title in my 12th professional fight.  I went 15 rounds against Dwight Muhammad Qawi [winning the WBA cruiserweight title].  They said I was too young.  But I went with him for 15 rounds, I won, and people were still saying I was too young.  But because I won it means I was ready.

He added: “It's a great thing for Anthony Joshua to be winning at this level, at this stage.  He's good enough, in my view.  Leon Spinks fought Muhammad Ali for the world title in his eighth fight [and won].  Sometimes we just have to do it now, in that moment, because the moment can be lost.  He's brand new and fresh.  He's the champion in his 16th fight.  He's got a great chance at breaking Rocky Marciano's record.  He could get to that 49-0 and he won't even be old.  Now line them up.”

Joshua won the IBF belt in just two rounds when handing Charles Martin his first-ever professional defeat in April.  The new titlist wasted no time in lining up Dominic Breazeale for his first defence, which takes place at London’s O2 on June 25 and will be televised in the U.S. courtesy of his multi-fight deal with Showtime.

The undefeated New Zeland-based Joseph Parker out-pointed Carlos Takam last weekend to secure a mandatory shot at Joshua’s title, so, presuming that one is next, the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist will have taken on five undefeated fighters in as many fights as he bids to rack up ring experience before eying the likes of world Champion Tyson Fury, who meets Wladimir Klitschko at the Manchester Arena on July 7.

The comebacking David Haye has also called for a showdown with Joshua, but promoter Eddie Hearn has told the “Hayemaker” he will have to up his level of opposition if he is to be taken seriously.  Hearn has has offered Haye a bout against Dillian Whyte to see who gets a crack at Joshua’s crown in 2017.

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