LONDON: Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua is expected to turn professional this week after leaving the Great Britain amateur boxing programme with immediate effect yesterday.
Joshua shot to prominence when he defeated Roberto Cammarelle in the super-heavyweight final at the London Games last year.
The 23-year-old is set to sign for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom organisation.
It means Joshua could make his debut on the undercard of Carl Froch’s world super-middleweight title clash with George Groves later this year, which is being promoted by Hearn.
The British Amateur Boxing Association said in a statement: “BABA has confirmed that the 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist, Anthony Joshua MBE, will not be part of the GB Boxing squad in the 2013-17 Rio cycle.
“His contract with the BABA finished at the end of the 2009-2013 London Olympic cycle and he has now left the World Class Performance Programme to pursue other career opportunities.” REUTERS
