‘A casual fan in USA isn’t going to know Anthony Joshua’ - Caleb Truax EXCLUSIVE
ANTHONY JOSHUA is unknown among casual boxing fans in the United States, according to former super middleweight world champion Caleb Truax.
Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) is jetting off to the States in June to take on New York heavyweight Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) at Madison Square Garden.
The world championship bout will see AJ trade blows in America for the first time in his professional career, as he aims to take his brand global.
The 29-year-old holds the WBA, IBF and WBO belts and sought a more high-profile match-up with WBC champion Deontay Wilder at Wembley in April, but could not agree terms for an undisputed contest.
After unsuccessfully approaching Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte with overtures for the national stadium clash, promoter Eddie Hearn decided it would be wise for Joshua to make his US bow.
The 2012 Olympics gold medallist has attracted crowds of over 75,000 for his last five fights in UK, but is hoping to smash box-office numbers in the 20,789-seater MSG.
The fight’s performance on pay-per-view will go a long way to reflecting Joshua’s popularity in America where he is a relative unknown, according to Truax, who defeated recently-retired James DeGale in December 2017 to become IBF champion at 168lb.
While eyeing a showdown with Peter Quillin on, funnily enough, April 13 in Minneapolis, Truax is preparing for a media-oriented role once he hangs up his gloves and speaks honestly about Joshua’s reverence the other side of the pond.
“I don’t think he’s a big star yet in America,” the 35-year-old says from his car in Minnesota.
A casual fan [in USA] isn’t going to know who Anthony Joshua is
“Obviously he’s a big star in Britain, but this fight against Miller will go a long way to establishing him as a star in the United States, and getting his name on the tip of casual fans’ tongues.
“Right now, hardcore boxing fans know about him but a casual fan isn’t going to know who Anthony Joshua is, if they’re not from Britain.”
Joshua has received criticism for taking on Miller, when fight fans longed for a mouth-watering match-up with Wilder or compatriot Tyson Fury.
But Truax is content with the contest, saying: “I think that Big Baby Miller is a good challenger. He’s undefeated, he’s put on some good shows on national television.
“I think Joshua will beat him but I think he’s a good fight for Joshua, I don’t mind it at all.
“Some people have been down on it but it’s Joshua’s first fight here in the United States, probably a sell-out at Madison Square Garden, loads of British fans will come over.
“Big Baby Miller is a top-10 heavyweight, so if he’s not fighting Wilder or Fury, then Big Baby Miller is on the shortlist of people I’d want him to fight.”