Should he prevail, Joshua will be set to face former world champion Wladimir Klitschko in a 2017 mega-fight and he must therefore ensure nothing upsets those plans against American Molina
Browsing: Anthony Joshua
The British Olympic gold medallist will defend the belt for a second time following his seventh-round stoppage win over Dominic Breazeale in June
Joshua defended his world title with a seventh-round stoppage win over Dominic Breazeale in June, and he intends to keep hold of the belt this weekend
The pair had initially hoped to meet on December 10, but a delay in the governing body making a decision on the fight and a minor injury to Klitschko meant that plans were scrapped until next year
Unbeaten Joshua defended his title for the first time with a seventh-round knockout of American Dominic Breazeale in June, having won the belt against Charles Martin in two rounds in April
Asked whether he could fight before November, Joshua told Sky Sports: “No problem with that. I’ve got a slot for November and then we’ve got 2017, which is important
Now Joshua, born in Watford to a Nigerian mother and father, wants to fight on the continent. Joshua, who grew up for much of his early years in Nigeria before returning to UK, says he stays very much in touch with West African culture and hopes to fight there one day
Joshua extends his professional record to 17 successive wins while Breazeale suffers his first defeat in his 18th outing
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn initially suggested that the Olympic champion would fight on July 9, the same night as Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko’s rematch, but it has now been moved two weeks earlier
Martin captured the vacant IBF title in January with a third round TKO of Czar Glazkov due to injury