British boxer tipped for Olympic stardom

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.

Joshua was confirmed as the super heavyweight selection for London 2012 when the first five members of Great Britain’s Olympic boxing team were officially named.

Also confirmed were light welterweight Tom Stalker, the Commonwealth Games champion from Liverpool who narrowly missed out for selection for Beijing in 2008, Hull bantamweight Luke Campbell and two boxers from Wales in the shape of Fred Evans, a 20-year-old welterweight from St Mellons, Cardiff, and Barry flyweight Andrew Selby.

It is the massive frame of Joshua, however, which is likely to grab the attention when Britain begins its quest for boxing medals following the three won in Beijing, including gold for middleweight James DeGale, four years ago.

Joshua earned his selection by taking silver at the world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, when he defeated reigning Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle on the way to the final.

It has cranked up the anticipation in the British camp and Rob McCracken, Team GB Boxing Team Leader, said: “We always knew we had something special on our hands with Anthony but his rate of progress this year, for someone who is still relatively inexperienced, has been absolutely fantastic.

“His performance at the world championships in September was brilliant and as long as he continues to work hard in the gym, listen to the coaches and develop as a boxer then he has every chance of being a star in his home town Olympics.”

That would fulfil the ambition of Joshua, who lives in Finchley and is desperate to emulate the feat of Harrison, also a London boy, who won Olympic gold at super heavyweight at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Another super heavyweight, Liverpool’s David Price, weighed in with bronze in Beijing while former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis won Olympic gold in 1988 at super heavyweight, albeit while representing Canada.

Joshua said: “It is amazing to have qualified for the Olympic Games but my priority is to continue to work hard in the gym, listen to the coaches and do everything I can to become a better boxer.”

For Stalker it is the chance to complete an impressive haul of medals which include European and Commonwealth gold at lightweight and world championship bronze in Baku at light welterweight.

Stalker said: “I can remember being in the gym back in 2008 when the lads that were going to Beijing got all of their kit and while I was pleased for them I was also very envious. It made me determined to qualify for 2012, so to have finally achieved it is a dream come true.”