Sparkling Rose has bright future

THE MIDLAND BOXING BEAT WITH MIKE LOCKLEY

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impresssed against Mexican Jorge Luis Huerta last time out Conah Walker is tipped to face Sam Egginton, far right, at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall in May

ERE’S a prediction,” Joshua Rose announced straight-faced. “By 2029, I'll be a world champion.

“Four years from now. One hundred per cent I'll be a world champion. One million per cent I can achieve that.”

When I last spoke to Birmingham’s boxing binman, he was on a high after his first televised arena fight last November.

The 20-year-old southpaw didn’t merely triumph on Boxxer's card at the Valiant Live Arena, Derby, he sparkled.

Rose, a former standout amateur, dominated against Mexican Jorge Luis Huerta, forcing the visitor back with hard, fast jabs and sinking in sickening body shots for a whitewash 60-54 win.

This Saturday, it’s back to the bread-and-butter of small hall boxing. On manager Anthony Manning’s Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, show, Rose will continue his education at the expense - I have little doubt of that - of Karl Sampson. The bout is scheduled for six and Rose may have to settle for a distance contest: Sheffield’s Sampson, a veteran of close to 80 contests, knows all about survival.

Last year’s TV debut ticked important boxes for Joshua: his first six-rounder, his first taste of big-time boxing. Word is, he impressed so much another TV date beckons.

“It felt good,’ said Rose, trained by Gary Turner. “I felt very comfortable there, it felt like I'd been there before, it felt natural to me.