The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Fast learner Joshua will show benefits of Klitschko fight
Anthony Joshua is ready to show the lessons he learned from his epic fight 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 from boxing. Klitschko’s decision denied a repeat of that brutal Wembley fight in 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.
“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.
But despite Pulev losing to Klitschko, Joshua, who is also the WBA heavyweight champion, is taking nothing for granted ahead of the fourth defence of his IBF title.
“I learned that sometimes you can watch a million videos of your opponent and prepare for something,” Joshua said at the first press conference to promote the Pulev fight.
“But it is always different when you step into the ring.
“I always prepare for an improved fighter from what I have seen from his fights on video.
“It is not so much about making a statement to anyone, it is just showing my coach that I am listening to his instructions. As long as my coach and the old-time fighters are impressed by what I’m doing, that’s all that matters.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring.
“As soon as my last fight was over on April 29, my next question was when’s the next one?”