ANTHONY JOSHUA ‘squared up’ to the teenage boxer who’s tipped to be his successor as they came face to face for the first time.
Leo Atang, 18, is being branded “AJ’s heir” after being snapped up by Eddie Hearn ahead of his pro debut this Saturday.
Anthony Joshua broke the ice with teenage boxer Leo Atang[/caption]
Atang is making his professional debut on the Eubank vs Catterall undercard[/caption]
Awestruck Atang, who calls Joshua his idol, was taken aback when the two-time heavyweight world champion threw air punches within seconds of meeting.
AJ broke the ice with the gag as he gave the young fighter his seal of approval.
The former world champion told Atang: “The world is yours.”
But the heavyweight isn’t ready to bow out quite yet, despite his knock-out by Daniel Dubois in September.
Speaking at the unveiling of Matchroom Boxing‘s rebranding, AJ said: “For the first time in about 12 to 13 years as a professional, not even including the amateur stuff, I took a year out to get my body right.
“I’m at a different stage in my career where I can look at time a bit differently.
“I’ve not got all these years in front of me like the main man here [Atang], so I’ve got to make really executive decisions about what I do next.
“So the minute I come back, you know I’ll come back with a bang rather than just keep rolling.
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“I just thought, let me take some time out so when I do come back I come back fully active and ready to go and take the division by storm again.”
Meanwhile Atang is preparing for his pro debut on the Jack Catterall vs. Harlem Eubank card in Manchester this Saturday.
Sharing a picture of himself with AJ and Frank Bruno on Instagram, Leo wrote: “The past, present and the future.”
Atang – a former rugby league winger from York – is a five-time national champ.
He won the World Boxing Under-19 world championships last year – stopping Korean Lee Geon Hui inside the first round.
Soon after turning pro under Hearn, the promoter said: “He’s the guy in my opinion to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Joshua.
“And ignite the heavyweight division to all kinds of fanbases across the country.
“Young man, plenty of work to do, we’re going to box him all across the country, all over the world.
“Seven, eight fights a year but remember what I say, everybody in this arena, everyone tuning in on DAZN, follow this young man, remember the name.
“This is the future of British boxing and the future of the heavyweight division.”
