Sport :

Joshua in no rush to turn pro

20th July 2012, 01:43pm

Bet with SkyBet  Medal Specials. Click here to bet.

Anthony Joshua: Olympic hopeful

Anthony Joshua: Olympic hopeful

London super-heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua insists even an Olympic gold medal will not necessarily hasten his departure into the professional ranks after the Games.

The Finchley 22-year-old has shrugged off a series of offers from top promoters since rising to prominence when he came within one point of being crowned world amateur champion in Baku last year.

And the scramble for his future services will go into overdrive if he lives up to his pre-Games billing as one of the favourites to win a gold medal in an exceptionally competitive +91kg division.

Audley Harrison and Amir Khan are the most recent Britons to turn over in the glow of their Olympic medal wins, but while Joshua is in high demand he claims it is far from a foregone conclusion he will leave the amateur code.

Joshua said: "I've got two more Olympic cycles in me and there's world and European titles to win, so I've got an exciting career on both sides. I'd love to get a gold at the worlds.

"I don't want to leave anything with regrets. I want to achieve what I set out to achieve. After the Games I will sit and reflect on where I want to go. At the moment I just know there are great things to come either way."

Joshua went from an untested prospect into a major star in an instant during his campaign in Baku, when he defeated reigning world and Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle of Italy in the quarter-finals.

A controversial 22-21 final loss to Azeri Magomedrasul Medzhidov has clearly focused Joshua on coming through arguably the toughest of Olympic divisions and gaining revenge on the biggest occasion of all.

"I never expected to be here," added Joshua.

"When I started boxing at the age of 18 I didn't even know there was Olympic boxing. When I got my first taste of amateur boxing I thought, 'I like this'.

"I know that once you've made the decision to take off your amateur vest and head into the professional realm, there's no going back.

"There's no more Olympics or World Championships - the pros are your last shot at it, so it's a big decision."

Bet with SkyBet  Medal Specials. Click here to bet.

Videos

    Brailsford heaps praise on Hoy

    Brailsford heaps praise on Hoy

    18-April-2013

    Sir Dave Brailsford says he can't speak highly enough of Sir Chris Hoy and his career, stating he made Britian proud.

    Sir Chris Hoy retires

    Sir Chris Hoy retires

    18-April-2013

    Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic gold medal-winner, has retired from track cycling.

    Johnson develops future talent

    Johnson develops future talent

    05-April-2013

    Four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson thinks it's extremely important to have a full-time atheltics stadium in the UK to help develop future talent and for the legacy of the London 2012.

    From discus to NFL?

    From discus to NFL?

    31-March-2013

    British discus thrower Lawrence Okoye speaks about his attempts to join a side in the NFL as a defensive end.

    Facebook Favourites