I WOULD like to see Michael Sprott fight Anthony Joshua but feel a better fight would be with Kevin Johnson.

Why do I like to Sprott for Joshua? It’s because he’s been a great servant to boxing, and if he turns up as the determined Sprott he can be, he would give Joshua a lot of trouble, as he has done over the last few years to opponents in Germany.

Although he has only lost four of his last 10 fights, the class of opponent has not been at the better level although he went nine rounds with Kubrat Pulev – who takes on Wladimir Klitschko in November – and lost a 12-round unanimous decision over 12 rounds for the European heavyweight title to Alexander Dimitrenko. It would be good for Sprott’s pension as there can’t be too many fights left in those old bones, and he deserves one final chance in a big British fight.

But Johnson would be the better option. Although he has only won three of his last eight fights, his class of opponent has been up there with the best. He lasts the distance, he went 10 rounds with Manual Charr, 12 rounds with Derek Chisora and 12 with Tyson Fury. He is a tall fighter with a great deal of durability, which Joshua is in urgent need. We need to see how the old cardio is after a few rounds of pressure and maybe taking a couple of shots on the whiskers.

I see the Boxing News readers’ favourite is David Price but they should forget about. He still is a world class heavyweight following the losses to Tony Thompson, and as far as maturity is concerned, Pricey was not far in front of Joshua before those defeats. He has also been blighted with injuries, and I feel his confidence needs a boost after his last performance (going the full 10 with Yaroslav Zavorotnyi) and at the moment he won’t get it fighting Joshua.

After a quiet weekend for some last week (I was in Slovenia refereeing and mountain climbing with former Perugia soccer player Matteo Montella), this week looks tasty. There are shows in Monaco, Hull and the Echo Arena at Liverpool. Stuart Hall is in with Randy Caballero for the IBF bantamweight title in Monaco.

Tommy Coyle against Michael Katsidis is my pick on the Hull bill, and if Katsidis has still retained some of that old fashioned blood and guts, combined with out and out courage that was a trademark of this warrior, then Coyle is in for a tough fight. I see the fight as similar to when Coyle fought Derry Mathews. Coyle was masterful, but one lapse in concentration, and it’s Goodnight Vienna.

Lastly we have the Liverpool show where Paul Butler risks his unbeaten record but the fight that stands out for me is Mathews in with Adam Dingsdale. I expect Hall and Derry to come through as winners, but wonder about Coyle if the old Michael Katsidis turns up.