JOSHUA: I HAVE WORKED ON TOUGH TIMES

Anthony Joshua has opened up on the tough times he has endured following his struggles to reclaim a world title since 2021.

The 34-year-old is preparing for his IBF World heavyweight title clash with Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday.

Joshua admitted it has been tough for him to regain his form after losing consecutively to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.

He said: “I’ve worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I’ve worked hard to get better. Hopefully, those experiences won’t happen again because, as you saw that night [after the second Usyk loss], I don’t like losing.”

Joshua has bounced back with vital wins over the likes of Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.

He revealed that he has improved on his ability to read his opponents and many more in the last nine months.

Joshua said: “I think I’m gifted with an ability to fight and compete. In boxing you’re able to read certain tendencies, you’re able to read your opponent, so I can always have an eye for that.

“But there’s a supreme level that you can take it to. And it’s happened over the past eight or 10 months. I’ve honed in on those skills.”

Joshua is confident that he will come out victorious in the bout on Saturday night.

He said: “I can only talk about his strengths as weakness will give me a false sense of confidence, one of the things that people mention a lot is his punch power.

“However, what I truly believe is that punch power is a small aspect of boxing. I truly believe that it takes will, spirit, and hunger – that overrides any punching power anyone can bring to you.

“I’m a different beast. I’m a different beast to Filip Hrgovic, and he’s a different beast to [Francis] Ngannou and [Otto] Wallin. So, all those performances are irrelevant because I’ve got a freshman in front of me that I have to conquer.”

Joshua faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion and newly ranked #10 in the WBC Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in March.

He knocked down Ngannou in the first round and won by second-round knockout.

He will be taking part in his 13th world title fight while gunning for his third world title.