The ascent of heavyweight super prospect Anthony Joshua, the 2012 British Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, figures to move into full gear in 2015.
The 25-year-old Joshua blew away faded countryman Michael Sprott in just 86 seconds Saturday at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, on the Nathan Cleverly-Tony Bellew II undercard. He is already scheduled for his next fight, one that should at least get the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Joshua the rounds he desperately needs.
Joshua (10-0, 10 KOs) is due back on a card Jan. 31 at the O2 Arena in London and will face American Kevin Johnson (29-6-1, 14 KOs), 35, who went the distance with Vitali Klitschko in a lopsided world title challenge in 2009.
Johnson has lost three fights in a row and four of his past five, including to Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora and Manuel Charr, but has never been knocked out.
Joshua, who fought seven times this year, has yet to see the fourth round and Johnson figures to bring him there for the first time.
"I'm glad to get the year out of the way, it has been a busy one," Joshua said. "Kevin Johnson is durable and he has got a lot of experience and quite a lot of mouth, so it should be a fun one."
Promoter Eddie Hearn said Joshua likely will fight for the British title next year on his way to bigger fights.
"We'll take on Kevin Johnson in January and he will be ready to face anyone in the country next summer," Hearn said of Joshua, who has only 17 rounds as a pro in 10 fights.
Unified super middleweight titlist Carl Froch, who worked on Saturday's Sky Sports pay-per-view telecast, was impressed by Joshua's performance and loves his potential -- as do many.
"I know Anthony very well. He'll go on to win world titles," Froch said. "Michael is nearing the end of his career, but when's the last time you saw such a specimen in the heavyweight division as Anthony? He unloads so impressively and tenaciously, it's perfect. Matching him up is a nightmare. Everyone loves him and rightly so. What a fine fighter and person he is. He's the full package."