EMANUEL ODIASE is Anthony Joshua’s 6ft 8in prospect garnering a reputation for being the perfect Tyson Fury replica.
Odiase, an ex-amateur standout in Germany, has since relocated to Wolverhampton under the guidance of AJ’s 258 management stable.
The huge heavyweight prodigy is only 2-0 as a professional but he has already shared the ring with Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk.
He told SunSport: “It’s not bad! I was in the ring with Wilder when I was about 21, I was young. I had about 12 amateur fights.
“No one can say they shared the ring with one of the biggest punchers in history with like 12 amateur fights.
“I’ve been getting great experience from day one, to be honest. Now it’s about transferring everything I’ve learned in camps over to the pros.”
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He was recruited by Wilder when he was still an amateur as the American prepared to rematch Fury, two years on from their 2018 draw.
And in 2021, he first met Joshua who at the time was gearing up for a potential Gypsy King face-off.
That Battle of Britain infamously fell through as Fury was contracted to a trilogy bout with Wilder, which he won in 11 rounds.
But not only did it give Odiase the chance to share rounds with AJ, it also paved the way for the two to build a relationship.
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That soon turned into a business opportunity when Odiase decided to turn over this year.
He said: “We got along pretty well, stayed in touch and I sent him some of my amateur fights to get his feedback.
“And last year when I made the decision to turn pro, I said to him, ‘I’m ready to go pro now, what do you think about different managers?’
“I asked him about different people, Egis Klimas, Usyk’s manager as well and then he was like, ‘You want to speak to my manager.’
“And that’s when I said yeah and it all started from a message on WhatsApp, to be honest.”
It was through his connection with Joshua and manager Freddie Cunningham that he then met his now-trainer Joby Clayton.
And Odiase has set up camp in Wolverhampton and adopted the UK as the new home of his career.
It was also through his boxing links – and more specifically heavyweight veteran Gerald Washington – that he was recruited by Usyk’s team.
He has been in camp with Usyk three times, last March in Turkey for a would-be Fury fight, in Poland before the Daniel Dubois bout and more recently in Spain.
But just two weeks before Usyk was due to challenge for the undisputed crown in Saudi Arabia, Fury withdrew with a cut sustained in sparring.
The title unification has since been postponed to May 18 – leaving the door open to Odiase to rejoin the sparring squad.
He said: “As long as it suits my schedule because I need to stay building with my coach Joby Clayton over in Wolverhampton.
“So that would be something I’d discuss with him, if he gives me the green light to go then I’d go because it’s great experience to spar a world champion of that calibre.”
Odiase was introduced to British fans with a six-round points victory over Amine Boucetta, 31, in February.
And he hopes it was the first of many in 2024.
Odiase said: “My plan in my head is to get out at least six times this year.
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“I’ve done one, five to go, that would be the best case. If it’s more, then that’s great, if it’s less than that’s bad.
“So we’re aiming for five more. I trust my team in 258 because they’re the best in the world to get me those fights and opportunities.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
