Frank Warren: Giving Anthony Joshua a shot at the world title next year is stupid

RINGSIDE: In his exclusive column, Warren writes Anthony Joshua's need to have his jaw tested - and the need for patience

British heavyweight Anthony Joshua continued his unbeaten start to his professional boxing career (GETTY IMAGES)

One young heavyweight with the world at his fists is Anthony Joshua. I am a fan of the personable Olympic gold medallist and he certainly looks the business. But let’s not get too carried away just yet.

The ancient Russian he roughed up, Denis Bakhtov, may have been well past his sell-by date but he was a reasonable opponent, the sort you’d expect him to be fighting at this stage of his career.

Big Josh can certainly dish it out, but can he take it? What alarms me is that he seems so easy to hit. He is open to a right hand and if he was my fighter I would be taking that up with his trainer.

Without being a particularly concussive puncher, Joshua has slam-bammed his way past nine opponents in double-quick time. But to suggest he’ll be ready for a world title shot next year is plain stupid. He needs time to mature and better class opponents to test his stamina and chin.

Is 39-year-old Michael Sprott a sufficient step up in class? (Getty Images)

Whether 39-year-old warhorse Michael Sprott, who is next up, can provide a more substantial examination is debatable.