Anthony Joshua can still recall the culture shock of walking into the GB Boxing gym for the first time as an impressionable amateur ill-equipped to begin a journey which would sweep him to the top of his sport.

The left hand crashed square into Lucien Bute’s face, snapping his head back at the neck, but it was the preceding right, thrown from Carl Froch’s hip, which sent the most disturbing shudder through the young Canadian’s body.

British boxer Anthony Joshua, the 22-year-old who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Audley Harrison, was today tipped to be a home town star at the Olympics next summer.