Joshua-Klitschko kickoff presser on Wednesday

It’s on! It has taken Anthony Joshua less than four years to become the threat he is right now and about three seconds of that time was spent convincing Eric Molina that he was in the wrong buffet line on Saturday night in Manchester.

After completing the formalities, Joshua admitted to the press that he hopes to face Wladimir Klitschko next April in a world title unification clash, should he triumph over Molina.

Molina was immediately on the defensive, backing into the ropes and allowing Joshua to find his range with two rounds spent behind his thumping left jab.

Moments after Joshua (18-0) brutally dispatched Molina within three rounds, former unified champion Klitschko (64-4) climbed into the ring to confirm the announcement.

Joshua had originally been slated to fight Wladimir Klitschko in this fight at Manchester Arena on Sunday (NZ time), but the Ukrainian was sitting ringside watching the display after an injury meant the deal could not be finalised.

“My hall of fame coach Emmanuel Stewart said “one day you will have a signature fight”.

It’s that attitude that’s turned Joshua from an Olympic champion in 2012 to possibly the most feared heavyweight boxer around.

Said Klitschko: “He is the best man in the heavyweight division and his record speaks for itself”.

If I could go on and not take too much punishment, learn the skills and the true science of boxing, I’ll stay around for as long as my body holds up.

“I’m expecting this to be the toughest fight of my career so far and I will be ready for an all-out war”.

Klitschko, meanwhile, is on a mission to reclaim the IBF and WBA belts he lost after being beaten by Briton Tyson Fury a year ago.

“There are different breeds of animals in this sport but at the end of the day we are all predators, we are all lions”.

“We move on”, said Joshua, who defended his IBF belt for the second time.

The heavyweight division has been an afterthought in boxing in recent years, but that’s slowly changing to the point at which it could be one of the most interesting in 2017.

Like Joshua, the engaging Molina, who is a part-time teacher of school children with special needs, insists on the importance of remaining grounded, and says the lure of glory and million-euro purses is not what convinces him to continue lacing on the gloves. I think that will play a big role but I can’t let that be the reason why I think I’m going to win. “I will worry about myself and training”. I want that IBF belt, I don’t have the option to go for another belt or down another route. “But I don’t think he’s ever faced anyone with my power or ability”.