Anthony Joshua MBE says he cannot wait to box at the York Hall on Thursday night, in the sold-out ‘Joshua and the Prizefighters’. The Olympic Gold medal star faces Croatian Hrvoje Kisicek in his third pro outing and is hunting a hat-trick of KO wins.
After the grand debut at The O2 and a star turn on the undercard of Kell Brook’s win over Vyacheslav Senchenko at the packed Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Thursday night brings him back down to earth in the spit-and-sawdust surroundings of York Hall. Joshua has been victorious here before as an amateur and is excited about performing in the spiritual home of British boxing.
“It is a really intimate theater of boxing,” said Joshua. “There will be less than 2,000 people and everyone is over your head. The last time I boxed there was when I was an amateur, winning the ABAs. That was a great feeling so to go back there in my third pro fight with Prizefighter is going to be really good again. It is going to be great to get in there.
“The only thing I listen to about my prospects is what my coach tells me, and he tells me I am rubbish and I have a lot to work on. He tells me I have to keep my feet on the ground, that there are a lot of people out there who are better than me; that is why I need to keep on grafting in the gym.
“I do appreciate what people are saying about my prospects but it is early doors. I will challenge whoever they put in front of me to my best capability and give it my best behind the scenes so that I can showcase that I have been working hard under the bright lights. One step at a time, I have a long way to go.”
Meanwhile, James Toney is a marked man in the sold-out Team UK vs. Team USA Prizefighter tomorrow night (November 14) at the York Hall in Bethnal Green live on Sky Sports after his antics at this week’s promo shoot.
The three-weight IBF World champion will face Matt Legg in the second quarter-final and after upsetting his fellow fighters as the eight contenders for the 32nd edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight-man, one night tournament met in London for Sky Sports.
“He was disrespectful and rude to the UK boxers barely acknowledging us and wanting his own changing room away from all other boxers,” said Tom Little, who drew former World Cruiserweight title challenger Brian Minto in the fourth quarter-final.
“I will make him pay for what he said and is saying about us UK boys. The other American boxers were all pleasant and nice guys but it won’t stop me beating them up.”
Hackney fighter Larry Olubamiwo kicks-off the action against Florida’s Jason Gavern in the first quarter-final while Michael Sprott’s bid two become a two-time Prizefighter champion begins against Damien Wills in the third quarter-final.
Quarter-final 1: Larry Olubamiwo 18st 3oz vs. Jason Gavern 17st 1lb 10oz
Quarter-final 2: Matt Legg 16st 6lbs 13oz vs. James Toney 15st 7lbs 10oz
Quarter-final 3: Michael Sprott 17st 8lbs vs. Damien Wills 18st 13lbs
Quarter-final 4: Tom Little 17st 6lbs vs. Brian Minto 15st 9lbs 9oz
Ben Ileyemi 14st 5lbs 12oz vs. Moses Matovu 14st 2lbs
Anthony Joshua 16st 5lbs vs. Hrvoje Kisicek 15st 9lbs 9oz
