Bakhtov too small but still a stunning display from the Brit
Monday 13 October 2014 08:22, UK
Glenn McCrory believes Anthony Joshua could be the first boxer to blow the heavyweight division apart - since Mike Tyson.
The Olympic gold medallist picked up the WBC International belt following a brutal two-round stoppage of Denis Bakhtov, at the O2 Arena, on Live Fight Night.
You can't take anything away from the performance, it was superb and he is just going onwards and upwards.
It took his record up to 9-0 - all knockouts - and there has already been talk of taking on fellow British heavyweights David Haye and now David Price.
McCrory admits that he still has a lot to learn and regardless of who he faces down the line, there are plenty of tests to come.
But the former cruiserweight world champion believes Joshua has what it takes to not only dominate the heavyweight division but follow in the explosive footsteps of none other than Mike Tyson, the last man to rule the division with the world watching.
"Mike Tyson was pretty much going through the heavyweight division and creating a storm – and everybody loved it," he said.
"And there is nothing the public love more than a heavyweight who knocks people out.
"They don't want to see long 10-round fights, they want to see people getting knocked out – exactly what Anthony Joshua did."
Bakhtov was by far the most experienced opponent Joshua had faced since turning professional last summer.
But he became the eighth of nine opponents who didn't make it past two rounds.
McCrory admitted that the challenger was too small to cause real problems, but was quick to point out that Joshua wanted to make a statement and show a new side to his game.
"The great thing he's got is so far he's not had any opponents who are as big as him, so he has had a massive size advantage – and it showed straight away," he said.
"He's also got the speed and the power. Bakhtov couldn't get near him and got peppered with big, solid jabs then the big right came in.
"I think very early on that Anthony thought 'this isn't a challenge, I can mix it up, he can't hit hard enough for me so I can get in there and rough him right up, and show something I haven't shown so far'.
"You can't take anything away from the performance, it was superb and he is just going onwards and upwards."
