Anthony Joshua knocked out Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday at Wembley Stadium to claim the WBA world heavyweight title, and he now has a "chance to carry boxing on his hulking shoulders, possessing the right blend of terrifying power and effortless charisma to take it out of the doldrums," according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. If Joshua keeps winning, his fights will be boxing's "must-see events." That is "precisely what boxing needs, a go-to guy for action and drama, a genuine celebrity with the ability to back up the hype and the hunger to produce a big finish every time he enters the ring." The heavyweights have a "leading man with a sense of style again, boxing has a fresh star who is still improving" (USATODAY.com, 4/29). ESPN.com's Nick Parkinson wrote while Joshua's profile "will only get bigger," his appeal is "not simply down to his knockout power." Joshua's charisma "helps him transcend boxing and appeal to mainstream audiences." With his "good looks and great talent, Joshua has a good chance of being a bigger hit" in the U.S. than Klitschko. Joshua's "hopes of making it big Stateside will depend on continuing his knockout form there and appealing to the American public through his personality." Over in the U.K., Joshua is "getting bigger and bigger." He will "replace the likes of Andy Murray, David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton and Rory McIlroy as Britain's best-paid sportsman" (ESPN.com, 4/30).
CROSSING THE POND: REUTERS' Ian Chadband noted Joshua's handlers "outlined ambitious plans to turn him into a global phenomenon." Just as Muhammad Ali "won the the 'Rumble in the Jungle' with George Foreman in Zaire and the 'Thrilla in Manila' against Joe Frazier," promoter Eddie Hearn has plans for Joshua to "light up new venues in China, the Middle East and Africa." Hearn said, "The plan, rather than just keep going in the U.K., is to explore and break new markets and boundaries. Like the Middle East, China -- I could see him fighting in the Bird's Nest Stadium -- and Africa. I want to go worldwide with him. Ali was one of AJ's inspirations. He knows everything he did" (REUTERS, 4/30). USA TODAY's Rogers writes given that the U.S. is "seen as the place to be for fighters seeking to maximize their financial earnings, a bout across the Atlantic would appear to be a natural step." Showtime Sports Exec VP & GM Stephen Espinoza said, "It is a high priority for us but more importantly it is a high priority for Anthony." Rogers notes Showtime "holds the rights to Joshua’s next two fights and figures to play a significant role in his career path." Las Vegas or N.Y. would be "key potential locations if Joshua fought Stateside, with an army of traveling British support likely to follow him in even greater numbers than the likes of Ricky Hatton or Lennox Lewis in the past" (USA TODAY, 5/1).
BOXING IS BACK: Espinoza said, "For most of the American audience, this was their introduction to him, and you couldn’t have asked for a better introduction" (L.A. TIMES, 5/1). CBSSPORTS.com's Brian Campbell wrote Joshua's victory "might be what the heavyweight division has desperately needed for years." Both boxers on Saturday "kept coming in a slugfest that didn't take long to remind why boxing is so dependent upon the health of its marquee division to retain relevancy and interest," particularly in the U.S. Saturday's showdown did what every boxing match of its size has "seemingly failed to do in recent years after a long build-up of hype." Campbell: "It delivered. In fact, it exceeded expectations." There are now "more reasons to be excited about heavyweight boxing than there have been since the last great era" in the '90s (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/30). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote Joshua-Klitschko was a bout in which "there was no loser." It showed promoters that when they "make the right fights and promote them well," fans "will support it." Iole: "They put on a fight for the ages in one of the best scenes in modern boxing history. ... This is what boxing looks like when it's at its best" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/30). The AP's Tim Dahlberg wrote, "A heavyweight division moribund for years was suddenly very much alive once again" (AP, 4/30).
