The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Joshua aims to prove he has learned from Klitschko battle
Anthony Joshua cannot wait to show the lessons he learned from his epic battle with Wladimir Klitschko in his next world heavyweight title defence.
Joshua meets his IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on October 28 after his planned Las Vegas rematch with Klitschko was scuppered by the Ukrainian’s retirement.
Klitschko’s decision denied a repeat of that brutal Wembley clash last April, which Joshua won by an 11th-round stoppage after being knocked down earlier in the fight.
But Joshua still plans to draw on that incredible contest, saying: “I am looking forward to expressing a kind of different approach to my boxing skills.
“What I went through in my last fight was a new experience. I want to show what I have learned from that.
“It is about finesse and outclassing your opponents, but if I need to go to war, I will go to war.
“I’m prepared to go into the trenches, but sometimes I can be smart and wise and take an opponent out without taking too much punishment.
“It depends what fight my opponent will bring to the table. I just look for the win one way or the other.”
Bulgarian Pulev has won 25 of his 26 fights, with his only defeat coming against Klitschko when he lost inside five rounds in November 2014.
Speaking through a translator, the 36-year-old, who holds the No 1 status with the IBF, said Joshua should be wary of street-fighting skills he learned in his native Sofia.
“It is not just the ring where I am experienced,” Pulev said.
“I have experience on the streets as well, which is another advantage.”