By James Crook

Anthony Joshua will face undefeated Italian Emanuele Leo next month in his first professional fightSeptember 25 - Britain's super-heavyweight Olympic champion Anthony Joshua will get his professional boxing career underway with a six-round bout against undefeated Italian Emanuele Leo next month at London's O2 Arena.

Joshua, who elected to sign professional terms with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in July ahead of a host of rumoured potential suitors, is due to fight in front of his hometown crowd for the first time since his triumph at last year's Games in a six-round fight on Saturday October 5.

His 32-year-old opponent Leo boasts a record of eight wins - three by way of knockout - in his professional career, and will be fighting outside of his home country for the first time in the British capital next month.

Anthony Joshua, pictured here with promoter Eddie Hearn, will make his pro debut on October 5Anthony Joshua, pictured here with promoter Eddie Hearn, will make his pro debut on October 5

The fight will appear on the undercard of the Scott Quigg-Yoandris Salinas World Boxing Association (WBA) super-bantamweight title fight, which was set to take place on the bill of David Haye's much anticipated match-up with British rival Tyson Fury last Saturday, but the headline fight was postponed after Haye sustained an injury during sparring.

Joshua's fellow Olympic champion Luke Campbell faces his second professional fight on the same card after taking out his first opponent Andy Harris in just 88 seconds in July, whilst Britain's Kevin Mitchell faces Mexican Marco Lopez for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) inter-continental lightweight title.

Undefeated Welshman Lee Selby will also defend his British and Commonwealth featherweight titles against Ryan Walsh on the same night at the O2. 

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