Anthony Joshua will put his perfect record on the line vs. Eric Molina on Showtime

Anthony Joshua's next title defense will be on Dec. 10 against veteran Eric Molina

With a potential bout with Wladimir Klitschko pushed to 2017, Anthony Joshua needed a foe for his Dec. 10 scheduled date on Showtime.

Stepping up to the plate, veteran Eric Molina (25-3, 19 KOs), who will challenge Joshua (17-0,17 KOs) in Manchester Arena for his IBF heavyweight title. This will be Molina's second title shot in as many years, as he faced WBC champion Deontay Wilder in June 2015, eventually losing by way of knockout.

Joshua enters this fight in a similar position as Wilder was in a year and a half ago, as a young champion with incredible knockout power that is still fine tuning his craft and learning how to go deep into a fight. Molina was able to push Wilder into the ninth round, and Joshua's camp is hoping that their fighter will get a similar test.

Molina's most recent bout finished with him knocking out Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round for the IBF Inter-Continental belt in April. Few will expect Molina to win this fight, but this is a building-block-type fight for Joshua and a test he must pass before he can be ready for a bout with someone the level of Klitschko.

Molina has a tough chin, as evidenced by making it to the ninth round against Wilder, and has the power and willingness to come forward and step inside to bother Joshua a bit, making him uncomfortable.

"I am pleased that everything is now set for Dec. 10 and I can concentrate on getting the business done in the ring," said Joshua. "There has been plenty of talk about who I may face, but all I'm doing is concentrating on finishing Molina in style and putting on a great show.

"Every fight is dangerous in this division and this is no exception. I saw Molina have a great fight with Wilder and he is now coming off a strong KO win against Adamek in Poland. I'm expecting this to be the toughest fight of my career so far and I will be ready for an all-out war."

If Joshua is able to handle Molina's size and strength and impress once again, it will prove that he's ready to take the next step and battle with the top heavyweights in the division, starting with Klitschko in early 2017 with designs on a showdown with Wilder late in 2017 or in early 2018.