Exclusive – Oscar De La Hoya: ‘Anthony Joshua will be a force to be reckoned with very soon’

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya says he is excited by the potential of British fighter Anthony Joshua.

Watford-born Joshua, 26, burst onto the scene at the London Olympics in 2012 and has since made a rapid start to life as a professional, winning all 14 bouts by knockout.

Olympic champion Joshua defeated Gary Cornish in 1:37 last month and he is due to face Dillian Whyte for the British heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in December.

And De La Hoya believes it is just a matter of time before he reaches the very top of his sport.

“Anthony Joshua, I remember watching him in the Olympic Games,” the former six-weight world champion and current promoter told The Sports Bar.

“He has progressed in such a way where he’s going to be a threat very soon in the heavyweight division. He has the abilities, the speed, the explosiveness in the punching power.

“I believe Joshua will be a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight decision very soon.”

See what De La Hoya had to say about British boxer Amir Khan here.