In his 17th professional boxing match, Anthony Joshua dominated Dominic Breazeale in Greenwich, London. Doing his best imitation of a computer mouse, the 26-year-old Joshua cut and pasted Breazeale over seven rounds of brutal pugilism, improving his record to 17-0, 17 KO’s. While Breazeale proved game, he was no match for the sizzling combinations Joshua unloaded on the California natives 6’7 frame throughout the stanza. Breazeale was considered to be a step up for Joshua. ‘Trouble’, Breazeale’s Alias, was Joshua’s toughest test on paper to date. Joshua passed the test with a perfect score. With the loss, Breazeale falls to 17-1, 15 KO’s.
The victory was Joshua’s first defence of his IBF Heavyweight Championship. Joshua won the title from ‘Prince’ Charles Martin back in April. Joshua crushed the dead on arrival Martin in two rounds. One thing that was in keeping with these two fights was the raucous crowd at the O2 Arena. The fabulous venue in Greenwich, London has been the backdrop for Joshua’s last five fights. Delivering a fabulous stoppage each time out.
Now that Joshua is competing in championship fights, and bigger names are on the horizon, you wonder if Joshua can sustain the home cooking of the O2 arena for future battles. Lucrative names like Deontay Wilder, who was covering the fight for Showtime, and Joseph Parker, are being thrown around as possible future opponents for Joshua. Will these fighters be willing to lace ’em up in enemy territory against who appears to be the most talented and dominant heavyweight since Mike Tyson?
Wilder has proven he is willing to travel to a foreign territory to defend his version of the Heavyweight Championship. Is it foreseeable ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will be willing to travel into such territory to unify the title? In the post-fight interview with Jim Gray, Joshua dropped bread crumbs for the television audience, indicating travelling to the United States to defend his title maybe in the future. It is possible these scenarios will hash themselves out, assuming Wilder gets past Chris Arreola in a few weeks.
As for Joseph Parker, despite being the number one contender for Joshua’s belt, despite being undefeated. despite receiving rave reviews, he is more or less an unknown commodity in America. While it would be a great fight for boxing, it might not be the best way for Joshua to take America by storm. Look for that fight to take place at the O2 Arena if it is made. At press time a Parker fight appears to be the slight favourite for Joshua’s next fight.
There has been a buzz about the heavyweight division for a few months now. Joshua’s stellar performance against Breazeale has manifested that buzz into promise. Promise for some compelling Heavyweight Championship fights for 2016.
All Photos by Simon Downing/Digital Sports Photo. Go here for more: DSP
