?Matt is my toughest test in the pros,? says Joshua. True enough. After all, Skelton won several heavyweight titles, including the British Empire and EBU?
?Josue made war a long time against these kings.??Josue 11:18
It hasn?t been a long time for this particular Josue, heavyweight Anthony Joshua. Winner of the Gold Medal at the 2012 London Olympics, the 24-year-old Brit turned pro last year. He?s had six fights, winning all by knockout. He?s never had to go past the second round, winning his most recent bout by stopping Matt Legg via first-round KO in May.
Nor can his opponents best be described as kings. He will, however, be taking on warhorse Matt Skelton over a scheduled eight rounds at Liverpool?s Echo Arena on July 12.
The 47-year-old Skelton, also a Brit, is a 12-year pro (28-8, 23 KOs) who hasn?t fought since March 2013, losing to John McDermott by unanimous decision. He last won in October 2012, stopping Jakov Gospic by second-round TKO. Four of his eight losses have come by way of stoppage, most recently at the hands of David Price, who won by second-round KO in November 2012.
?Matt is my toughest test in the pros, there?s no doubt about that,? says Joshua. True enough. After all, Skelton won several heavyweight titles, including the British Empire and EBU. But he?s nevertheless a poster boy for spent-force prizefighters. While I don?t see this as another one- or two-rounder for Joshua, I do indeed expect him to stop Skelton, and no later than the fourth or fifth.
?And the Lord was with Josue, and his name was noised throughout all the land.? (Josue 6:27) Perhaps. Time, as always, will tell.
