{"id":59475,"date":"2016-04-14T15:06:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-14T20:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=59475"},"modified":"2016-04-14T15:11:04","modified_gmt":"2016-04-14T20:11:04","slug":"anthony-joshua-he-is-the-real-deal-uk-weekend-fight-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=59475","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Joshua: He is the Real Deal & UK Weekend Fight Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AJ\"<\/a>By Donald \u201cBraveheart\u201d Stewart<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week I began this column by bemoaning the fact that I had picked a fight to review that only lasted 100 seconds. At least my next review can cover a fight that got into the second round \u2013 it didn\u2019t get much further than that as Anthony Joshua 16-0 16 KO\u2019s, proved one thing \u2013 he IS the real deal.<\/p>\n

Prince Charles Martin 23-1-1, 21 KO\u2019s had travelled all the way over here to the 02 in London, England to face the might of Joshua. Like 14 of his other opponents he didn\u2019t get further than the first quarter of the fight as a precision punch that he didn\u2019t even see came through and knocked him on the floor. He got up, he got knocked back down again. He delayed his getting back up and with the referee calling it right, was counted out. Martin got the basics wrong and Joshua was punch perfect on them.<\/p>\n

Last week I suggested that the IBF were looking for someone to place with Martin because he was not a big draw at the box office; Joshua is. That theme was picked up by Joshua\u2019s last opponent and nemesis, Dillian Whyte 16-1- 13 KO\u2019s. Whyte said he felt that Martin had just sold his belt to the highest bidder. Whyte was disappointed in the showing from Martin and believed that the guy knew before he arrived that he was not going to hold on to the belt long so just chose who would give him the biggest check at the end of the night. Ouch! No American pride?
\nI have no idea if we shall ever see Martin in a world title fight again \u2013 there are too many super fights out there that do not have his name attached. Since his win, the humble and down to earth Joshua has been enjoying the limelight. He has been quick to renew hostilities with one Tyson Fury 25-0 18 KO\u2019s who was unimpressed by Joshua\u2019s showing.<\/p>\n

Fury will get back in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko 64-4, 53 KO\u2019s on July the 9th in Manchester. Joshua\u2019s promoter, Eddie Hearn has mischievously suggested that he has plans for Joshua that night too and we could see his first defense on that same evening. TWO world heavyweight title fights in the UK on the same evening? Surely not! But let me be very clear \u2013 Anthony Joshua went into the ring and fought the guy in front of him. With devastating power, he knocked down a heavyweight champion of the world twice to become champion in his 16th professional fight. I don\u2019t care what other people may say \u2013 that impressed the hell out of me!<\/p>\n

Onto this weekend and another sensational boxer that the UK has produced this time from the Northern English city of Leeds – Josh Warrington 22-0, 4 KO\u2019s will defend his WBC international featherweight title against Hisashi Amagasa 30-5-2, 20 KO\u2019s in his home town of Leeds on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Warrington is a sensation who has a fan base that is just crazy. This is on the same scale as the Hatton Army from Manchester that hit Vegas and drank it dry when they followed Ricky over the pond. These fans are certifiable\u2026\u00a0This is Warrington\u2019s second defense of the international belt and we can expect the usual fire cracking entertainment that comes with one of the most exciting talents in the UK right now who has not made the leap to world title level \u2013 YET!<\/p>\n

This is an intriguing fight for him as he faces a someone who put Guillermo Rigondeaux 16-0. 10 KO\u2019s on the canvas twice on the way to losing in Osaka in December 2014 whilst fighting for the WBA and WBO super bantamweight belts. Amagasa has a very creditable 20 KO wins from his 30 triumphs and alongside the experience of being a pro for no fewer than 12 years, this is a massive test for Warrington. Though Amagasa has never fought outside his home country of Japan, Warrington will not be extending typical Yorkshire hospitality. He is more likely to be sending the poor guy back battered and bruised as the fans demand a bust up, he delivers a dust up and we all get our just desserts with a cracking fight.<\/p>\n

I reckon that we are looking at a war which goes to the home fighter, possibly by stoppage. Like Joshua though, Warrington has a massive fan base and provides the spectacle. Just how good he is, is to be tested but on the evidence so far he is VERY good and the next guy on his radar fought on the undercard on Saturday night \u2013 Lee Selby 23-1, 8 KO\u2019s. Selby sent out a warning to anyone wanting his IBF featherweight belt that night \u2013 he intends to keep it or move up a weight and get bigger fights.<\/p>\n

He is ready for better fights and I would prefer Warrington went elsewhere but Selby is a catch and we might just see them together for 2017. For just now though \u2013 remember the name \u2013 as I reckon you guys in the US might be seeing this guy soon \u2013 you won\u2019t mistake his barmy fans\u2026<\/p>\n