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Anthony Joshua made a flying start to his professional career when he knocked out Emanuele Leo at the O2 Arena.
Coming off a gold medal win at the London 2012 Olympics, Joshua’s pro debut was highly anticipated and he delivered.
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Joshua did not take long to cast Leo aside on his debut
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As he announced himself as one of the brightest prospects in heavyweight boxing
The 6 foot 6 heavyweight came up against Italy’s Leo, who at the time had a record of 8-0, but Joshua quickly handed him his first career loss in what would be his last fight.
On a card that included a number of Britain’s brightest talents in Luke Campbell, Scott Quigg and Lee Selby among others, Joshua stood out as a future star.
Coming toward the end of round one, Joshua launched a vicious attack on Leo, throwing a seven-punch combination to drop the Italian and force the stoppage.
“That’s what the fuss is about,” the commentator exclaimed.
Joshua has gone on to fight six more times at the O2 Arena, including some of the best nights of his career, such as when he won his first world title by knocking out Charles Martin inside two rounds.
Or when he came up against bitter rival, Dillian Whyte, in the first real test of his career and he passed with flying colours, showing he could take a punch, but also his incredible power, as he KO’d ‘The Bodysnatcher’ with a vicious uppercut.
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On Saturday night, Joshua returns to the O2 Arena to take on America’s Jermaine Franklin.
This will be AJ’s first fight not involving a world title since 2015, as he looks to bounce back from two straight defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.
“It’s the worse time [to be fighting me],” Joshua said at the pre-fight press conference.
“The more he talks the bigger grave he digs for himself. But it is what it is, innit?
“I could say a lot of things about him, but I respect my opponent. It’s not for me to talk, it’s for [Eddie Hearn] to do all the talking. It’s for me to do my job on Saturday and that’s really what I’m focused on.”
Joshua added: “I think we’ll see blood.”
Showdown Saturday on talkSPORT
On Saturday 1 April, it’s all kicking off on talkSPORT.
12:30pm: Starting the day, Man City host Liverpool in a key Premier League game.
3pm: Crystal Palace vs Leicester sees the return of Roy Hodgson to the Selhurst Park dugout.
7pm: Build-up begins for the heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin as AJ starts his route back to the top.
What. A. Day.
You can tune in to talkSPORT via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com, DAB digital radio, download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2. talkSPORT is also widely available across the UK on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Source: TalkSport | Read More