Joshua jostling to extend perfect heavyweight career start over Johnson

In a literal heavyweight showdown at the O2 Arena in London, promising British hope Anthony Joshua will put his perfect professional career start on the line against experienced American Kevin Johnson, having comprehensively won his first 12 professional bouts to date by knock-out.

The Watford-born heavyweight giant shot to stardom at the 2012 Olympic Games in the capital, when he rallied to a successful gold medal triumph on home soil, and has since rampantly battled through the division with ease.

Although, Joshua’s toughest test in the ring is sure to come on Saturday night in the form ‘the Kingpin’ Johnson, who has never been toppled in his 13-year career, with all of his six losses coming by points decision.

Current WBC International heavyweight champion Joshua is odds-on 2/9 to inflict his equally towering opponent with a maiden knock-out defeat, while 35-year-old veteran Johnson is 20/1 cause an upset in London with a stoppage victory, as both heavyweights prepare for a possible quick-fire clash.

“We squared off at the first press conference and it’s great that Johnson has no fear of me and I have no fear of him,” stated Joshua. “He’s been in with Vitali Klitschko and he’s thinking: ‘If Vitali can’t drop me, who the hell is this kid?’”

Joshua’s ferocious counterpart managed to take Ukrainian heavyweight king Klitschko 12 gruelling rounds back in 2009, but in recent fights has lacked his killer instinct, losing five of his previous six bouts and a last victory coming in April 2013.