SPAR QUALITY
Ilunga says Joshua is one of the good guys but insists he’s targeting a world title shot for himself
I want to fight for a world title next year, I don’t mind if it’s AJ or anyone else MARTIN ILUNGA
MARTIN ILUNGA loves wearing wacky shirts but he warned Anthony Joshua he has a few tricks up his sleeve after the pair squared up in sparring.
The clothes-horse manmountain from the Congo was drafted into the world champion’s camp to help him prepare for tonight’s showdown with Carlos Takam in Cardiff.
Ilunga gave as good as he got in the gym but admitted he kept a bit in reserve as his sights are set on a clash with AJ inside the next 18 months.
The flamboyant big fellow is plotting his career under Billy Nelson in Airdrie and aims to make an impression in the heavyweight division.
Ilunga’s a hard man to hit but not difficult to miss. There are not many 6ft 6ins heavyweight fighters walking down Airdrie Main Street wearing a Trilby hat and a Hawaiian shirt with a giant boxing gloves medallion swinging from his neck.
He reckons he’d KO Joshua in a fashion contest – and fancies his chances of doing likewise in the ring after sizing up his target from behind the scenes.
Ilunga said: “I would win when it comes to fashion but we are similar in lots of other ways. He is where I want to be in 18 months.
“The sparring was excellent. Our coaches got together and they were looking for someone to work with AJ. I must admit, I was not sure because I hope we will be fighting each other one day soon.
“I want to fight for the world title next year. I don’t mind if it’s AJ or anyone else – but God willing I will have a world title.
“I eventually decided to go down. We had one sparring session and they said it was exactly what they needed, so they asked me back.
“I ended up going four times. It was good, hard sparring.
“It can happen that you end up fighting a sparring partner. With Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko earlier this year, you could maybe see that they knew each other.
“Maybe Joshua learned something about Klitschko in those sessions. I don’t want to show him all my skills. I want to keep some surprises.
“I gave my everything. I took some and I gave some – but I didn’t show him everything! That can wait for when we get in the ring for real.”
Ilungo reckons Joshua shouldn’t have much trouble taking out Takam.
The Frenchman was drafted in as a late replacement after original opponent Kubrat Pulev pulled out through injury.
Takam could be cannon fodder against the hottest fighter on the planet and Ilunga hopes Joshua does the business.
He rates him as a fighter – but also reckons he’s one of sports good guys.
Ilunga said: “I’m not scared of anyone. I will fight anyone. I never like talking bad about people. Boxing is a dangerous sport. You can talk all of the time but anything can happen once you are in the ring.
“I can see why Joshua is called the best. He’s physically impressive and is fast and strong but he can be beaten.
“He is a nice guy, though. Sometimes when you go to spar, the other fighter doesn’t say anything to you. You step into the ring and it’s down to business then you get out again.
“Joshua isn’t like that. He always asks how you are and what you have been up to, he’s a big humble guy.
“I know he’s made a lot of money but you couldn’t tell it. It’s not like the gym is all fancy and he doesn’t walk around acting like a champion. He is down to earth.
“It is similar to me. I want to be where he is in the next 18 months, it was great experience working with him.”
Ilunga is targeting AJ but he aims to win the IBO continental title on November 11. He faces Ali Baghouz on the undercard of Josh Taylor’s showdown with Miguel Vasquez in Edinburgh.
Ilunga said: “Everything has gone well and I’ve been training hard. I enjoyed working with AJ but am I am thinking about is my fight.
“Boxing is my life, it is all I think about. It is about taking the steps I need to get to my
goal.”