AJ doesn’t hear any alarm bells
ANTHONY JOSHUA says it is more about winning than thrilling at this stage of his career.
The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion defends his titles against Russian Alexander Povetkin on Saturday, returning to Wembley Stadium, where he secured superstar status with his sensational victory against Wladimir Klitschko last year.
But since that epic night, Joshua has been more effective than exciting in his late stoppage of Carlos Takam and points win over Joseph Parker.
The victories were impressive even if they were not as brutal as the Klitschko bout, and Joshua knows a slip-up at this stage will prove more costly than not quenching the thirst for blood from some fight fans.
And he used Lennox Lewis’s legacy as an example as he prepares to face Povetkin, 39, in his 22nd fight.
Unbeaten Joshua, 28, said: “When I watch boxing I want to see a knockout, so I get where people are coming from because I’m a fan of the sport as well.
“I remember when Lennox used to fight and everyone used to say how boring he was but now everyone will tell you how great he is and how slick he was.
“It’s about winning, beating that opponent in front of you. Every opponent will give you different opportunities and possess different game plans. If the opportunity is there, I ❑ have that instinct to take them out. If it is not there, I know how to box and keep it simple.
“Sometimes you can go looking for it and you get caught, the tables turn and history rewrites itself. I’ve got to be clever now.”
Joshua is still seeking improvement to ensure that he remains unbeaten, as he bids to become the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since Lewis.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says his man has become a “recluse” and Joshua feels like he is in the midst of an early “mid-life” crisis as he hides away at his Sheffield training base. His hair has grown out, his beard is longer and the only focus has been on getting everything out of his body. Sparring partners have been quitting the training camp because of the intensity and new training methods have been brought in. And one thing that has been binned is his alarm clock after he ditched early starts to ensure he has more energy to put in harder training sessions. “When I watched a Manny Pacquiao documentary, he does the same thing; Floyd Mayweather trains when he is ready; same with Vasyl Lomachenko,” said Joshua. “I actually saw ‘10.34’ on a clock when Manny was waking up and I was like, ‘What the f***? It’s 10.34 and I’m here getting up at the crack of dawn?’ “I tried it and feel much better. It looks lazy but you’re still getting the same amount of work done and in a better way. You know what it is like when you are younger, ‘I want to be heavyweight champion of the world’. “You become it and you think it will change your whole life, but it doesn’t. “I am just still sitting here, small room, content with my flat and I hit a wall where I felt, ‘You know what, I just don’t care any more’. This is my life and that’s probably why I haven’t cut my hair because I have got nothing to cut it for.” HAIR TRIGGER: Joshua says he will not be taking risks when he fights Povetkin, inset, as he bids to become the undisputed champion