Very few give Kevin Johnson a hope of beating Anthony Joshua when the pair meet in January; a victory for the Watford boxer seems almost inevitable. But if the veteran American is added to the Olympic champion's ever-growing knock-out list, then it will be the clearest sign yet that he may indeed be the great hope the heavyweight division has been searching for.

Johnson is 35, has lost four of his last five fights and doesn't appear to possess the power to trouble Joshua. Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, his last challenger Manuel Charr and two of Britain's leading heavyweights, Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury, have all beaten Johnson. But what none of those men have achieved - or any of his opponents - is a stoppage victory. Johnson has lost six of his 36 fights but has always lasted the distance. Joshua has yet to be taken past the third round in his ten fights as a professional. Something has to give.

Johnson's boxing style is not pretty on the eye but there will be a lot of boxing fans who want to see him in action against Joshua. The sport is desperate to see just how good the former Kings Langley pupil is.

Little was learned during Joshua's latest bout on Saturday night. After all, it lasted less than 90 seconds. The latest lamb to the slaughter? Reading's Michael Sprott. Liverpool again the city to witness his destruction.

The level of Joshua's opposition has been criticised at times but it is easy to forget he has been a professional for just over a year. However, the incredible power and efficiency he showed to dispatch Sprott did little to quieten the criticism.

So a January 31 date with Johnson at the O2 in London can not come quick enough for Joshua.

"Kevin Johnson is durable and he's got a lot of experience and quite a lot of mouth, so it should be a fun one," Joshua said.

"I'm glad to get the year out of the way, it's been a busy one."

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Joshua will be ready to face anyone in Britain next summer. A British title fight against 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Price has been muted. Price is arguably an example of what can happen if you rush a heavyweight prospect, after suffering back-to-back knock-out defeats to Tony Thompson last year, and is now rebuilding his career. Yet at 6ft 9ins and with one of the best right hands in the division, the Liverpudlian would be a risk.

Hearn has previously backed Joshua to beat anyone at domestic level now and on Saturday said: "He's had nine (ten) fights but when he backs you onto the ropes he's ruthless. We'll take on Kevin Johnson in January and he will be ready to face anyone in the country next summer."

Super middleweight world champion Carl Froch has shared a gym with Joshua on numerous occasions, with the duo using the same coach during the ex-Finchley ABC member's Olympic days and since.

Froch said: "I know Anthony very well, he'll go on to win world titles. Michael is nearing the end of his career, but when's the last time you saw a specimen in the heavyweight division like Anthony? He unloads so impressively and tenaciously, it's perfect. Matching him up is a nightmare. Everyone loves him and rightly so, what a fine fighter and person he is, he's the full package."