Joshua not willing to rush into Fury fight

Anthony Joshua Believes he still needs more experience before a potential fight with world heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.

Joshua was pushed beyond the third round for the first time in his professional career as he knocked out Dillian Whyte in the seventh on Saturday.

The victory saw Joshua – who won Olympic gold in 2012 – add the British heavyweight title to his WBC International and Commonwealth honours.

Viewed as a prospective future opponent for Fury, who holds the WBO, IBO and WBA (Super) heavyweight titles following his stunning victory over Wladimir Klitschko last month, Joshua is now 15-0.

However, speaking to Sky Sports News, the 26-year-old said: “I can take a lot away from that fight, but there is still a lot to work on.

“I could do better, but there were things I learnt that I didn’t get from my previous 14 opponents.

“I could fight [David] Haye, I could fight Fury, but you can’t just come into professional boxing and think you are going to blitz everybody.

“I am slowly getting experience after two years as a pro. People like Fury have been pros for eight to 10 years. I don’t need to go straight into the deep end for do-or-die fights. I need to build slowly.

“That’s what great about Fury; he built experience, he had been down and got up. He showed heart and fought his way back up to be champion. That’s exactly the route I am going to take.”

Joshua’s thrilling victory over Whyte was greeted by raucous celebrations at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena, making it abundantly clear that Britain has a new heavyweight hero. And Joshua’s emergence could lead to some fascinating heavyweight encounters on these shores over the next few years.

Next up for Watford’s Joshua, who also retained his Commonwealth belt at the O2 Arena, could be compatriot and former world title challenger, Dereck Chisora, who knocked out Croatian journeyman, Jakov Gospic, on the same bill.