ANTHONY JOSHUA has backed protege Ben Whittaker to become a superstar – despite him signing up to nemesis Tyson Fury’s trainer.
Team GB’s Olympic silver-winning light-heavyweight ace has agreed pro deals with AJ’s 258 management brand and Sky Sports.
Ben Whittaker won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021
Anthony Joshua is the face of his 258 management brand.
Tyson Fury retained the WBC by beating Dillian Whyte last month.
However, the 24-year-old penning a deal with the Gypsy King’s American mastermind coach Sugar Hill Steward has come as a curveball.
But Joshua still backs his stablemate to follow on his huge footsteps and turn amateur medals into real money.
The 2012 gold winner and former WBA, IBF and WBO champ said: “Ben is a really special talent with a fantastic amateur pedigree.
“He has had some tough decisions to make whilst turning professional but now finally he’s here.
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“Managed by the best team in the game, 258 Management, I think he is ready to set the world boxing scene on fire.
“Everyone get ready for a special journey. Ben is the future PPV star.”
Whittaker could have trained alongside 32-year-old Joshua in his new Loughborough gym, or cherrypicked any of the UK coaches around the country.
But he explained the special set of skills Steward – nephew of Kronk gym legend Emanuel Steward – has and has shown in Fury’s recent bouts are what swayed him.
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He said: “I just wanted to be different and grew up with that Kronk style.
“‘Hit and don’t get hit’ is the name of the amateur game but I want to bring in knockouts now and Sugar is the man to do that.”
Whittaker will retain the services of his uncle and amateur coach Joby Clayton going forward.
Whittaker has hooked up with Sugar Hill Steward
