The physical work is done... now I just need to rest and get my mind in good shape
more food and hydration, then boxing training at 5.30pm — the most important session of any day — where we work on technique, timing and movement.
So, when you are living that life over months in camp and then just before the fight, when you take away the training element, there’s some empty hours.
As boring as it sounds, I fill them mainly by sleeping — and the moments when I am awake and not doing pre-fight stuff, like the workout and media things, I just chill with the boys to take my mind off things. We’ll watch some films, do a bit of gaming — anything I can do to take my mind off things.
As hard as it might be to believe, I’m not really that aware of the huge interest in the fight because I’m locked away and I keep the team around me tight. But people are telling me it’s huge. I think I’d get mobbed now if I walked out of where I am staying, so I’ll be keeping a very low profile in these final 48 or so hours.
If you just live a regimented lifestyle, you can end up being a lonely man and go crazy but I am very focused and driven. I don’t drink, smoke or stay up late. I don’t think other people are on it like me. Sure, they talk a good game but they don’t do it like I do. Put a camera on us for 24 hours and you’d see who the real man is.
I am only a product of what I am physically and mentally because of those camps and my coach (Rob McCracken). He has taught me how to box and that’s day by day, and round by round in the gym, to study my opponents, to throw the right shots at the right time.
It’s an old school way of trainingaining and it’s looking at fine tuninging and perfecting things to thehe smallest detail, so it’s men-ntally draining, as well asas physically.
People say that this is my fight if it go e s e a r l y, b u t Wladimir’s if it goes late. Maybeaybe that’s right, we’ll see on thehe night, but I know that we’veve put the work in at the gym and on the road to go the distance if we need to. I havee done 12 rounds in the gymm and in my head and I can do 12 rounds at Wembley Stadium.
I am tired now but that’s not a bad thing. This has been a long camp, the fire is being cranked up inside me, but there’s time to rest.
You push yourself to the limitmit in camp and then spend thehe last few days recharging the batteriesries — and that’s when the atmosphereere can really take you to another level.evel.
When you take away the training element, there’s some empty hours. I fill them mainly by sleeping
Joshua vs Klitschko is exclusively live this Saturdayy on Sky Sports Box Office. To bookok visit skysports.com/joshua