Joshua will also be bypassing the traditional four-round start. He will meet Leo over six three-minute rounds and says:" I look forward to the challenge". The 23 year old was one of the great success stories of Team GB last summer, as he took gold in the super heavyweight category. Joshua has taken his time to consider his options since that glorious victory before deciding the time was now right to make the switch. The British Amateur Boxing Association confirmed the news in a statement: 'Olympic Super heavyweight gold Medalist, Anthony Joshua MBE, will not be part of the GB Boxing squad in the 2013-17 Rio Cycle.
Joshua follows fellow London heroes Luke Campbell, Anthony Ogogo and Thomas Stalker into the professional ranks and could make his pro debut on the undercard of Carl Froch's domestic clash with George Groves later this year. That Joshua is well wrapped up for the wintry blasts his business almost certainly will deliver amid the sunshine. For all that he has won a silver medal at the world amateur championships and Olympic Gold in London, his resume is thin by the sport's standards, ahead of his six-round paid debut against the unbeaten Italian Emanuele Leo at the O2 Arena on Saturday.
Joshua admits he was not even aware there was a Great Britain Boxing team until Terry Edwards's squad returned laden with medals from the Beijing Olympics in 2008, by which time his talent had catapulted him into the lower reaches of the sport. He won the ABA title in his 18th fight, displaying maturity and no little power, and , in 16 months rose from No46 to No1 in the world. Every time I step in the ring, even when I'm sparring, I picture 20,000 people cheering. Take a walk around the ring, bell goes, on it. It's a good feeling inside the ropes. I feel comfortable in there.