I’ve been in Saudi Arabia for a week today, arriving with all my team last Thursday, and we’ve been training hard ever since.
Now, we start to wind that back a little bit to make sure both body and mind are ready for fight night. The spotlight’s fully on me now, and you can see how big boxing has become out here.
I’ve felt really good and relaxed, all the team have and even my new friend John Fury!
I had the pleasure of bumping into him this week, and to have a hug and a bit of a chat. I love that he lives and breathes his boxing and the support that he offers is class.
As for his son, well, that’s different. I’m just kidding, but me chatting to a Fury predictably gets everyone talking about the potential for that fight with Tyson.
I still want that, I’ve never shied away from the prospect, and I want to end my career knowing I’ve fought all the big heavyweights, him included.
There has been a lot of talk that the winner of tomorrow night’s fight between Francis Ngannou and I will go on to meet whoever’s victorious between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on May 18. If that’s Fury, then great. Our prospective fight has been a long time coming.
I’ve got his old trainer with me for this fight in Ben Davison and the guy’s been giving me all the Tyson Fury secrets. I’m just kidding. In fact, we’re not looking ahead, all we’re talking about is the here and now and what’s lying in wait this week.
He’s been a great asset to me and the rest of my team. I’ve talked in this column before about how I want to learn in every fight, every training session, to be the best version of myself.
Ben’s worked with a lot of good fighters and made each and every one of them better. We have been working really well together and he understands the big men of the heavyweight division as well.
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You only have to look at how he took Fury from almost rock-bottom to where he is now, fighting the biggest fights and getting the big pay-days.There’s no doubt me versus Fury will be an absolute blockbuster, one of the biggest fights of all time. If it happens — and I believe it will — then great, but I can’t get ahead of myself. I’ve still got to fight what’s ahead of me.
As for Ngannou, I feel we have an advantage that Fury didn’t have when he fought him. For that bout, there was no previous boxing footage to look through. What we have might be limited, but it gives you a very clear idea of what the game-plan is.
I want to end my career knowing I’ve fought all the big heavyweights, Tyson Fury included
Anthony Joshua
I don’t believe he has faced a fighter like me before. Sure, it’s a 50-50 fight, as it always is when you put two big men who can throw explosive punches into the ring in opposite corners.
People say all the pressure is on me — and they can think that way — but this fight feels no different. I put more pressure and expectation on myself than anyone. I believe I’m my harshest critic.
I’m grateful for the opportunity. At my age, you’re aware you’re no longer at the start of your career and that fewer fights lie ahead, which makes it all the more important to grasp each and every opportunity.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place in Riyadh on Friday, live on Sky Sports Box Office.