Anthony Joshua says he can’t wait to box at the ExCeL in London once again as he prepares to return to the scene of his Olympic triumph on December 14.
The gold medal hero brought the curtain down on Team GB’s sensational London 2012 Games in style on August 12, coming from behind to beat Roberto Cammarelle in a heart-stopping final in east London.
The 23 year old steps back into the venue to face Dorian Darch in his fourth pro contest on Matchroom Sport’s stacked Christmas bill, and while Joshua is excited to be back at the ExCeL – but says it’s time to look to the future.
Here’s what Joshua had to say about the opportunity:
“This is where I learnt a lot. It is where I can say the heights of my amateur career happened. I am back there again competing and it will be another tough night of boxing but it will hopefully be another great night of boxing for me and my camp.
“I will never forget the Games and especially that incredible Sunday when I won the Gold. I’m thrilled to be back there again and all the memories will come flooding back as it was indescribable.
“I’m at the start of a fresh new chapter now though, the Olympics was amazing but it’s in the past. I am loving life in the pro ranks and learning every day. Dorian is a tough test for just my fourth fight and he’ll want to make a name for himself, as all my opponents do.
“I am grounded, I am focused and I am taking every fight very seriously. It’s vital that I keep winning and keep learning because one lapse of concentration in the ring could be disastrous.”
Joshua’s return to the ExCeL is part of a huge night of boxing on Sky Sports.
The stacked card features 15 fights with former World Lightweight title challenger Kevin Mitchell facing Italian Brunet Zamora for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title, recent World Welterweight challenger Lee Purdy aims to take the European title from Italian Leonard Bundu, the fifth defence for the Lazio man.
