Joshua aims to create a real legacy

ANTHONY JOSHUA believes it will be great fights rather than celebrated opponents which will define his boxing legacy.

Joshua was denied a lasting rivalry with former world heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko when the Ukrainian retired after their Wembley showstopper in April.

Klitschko’s decision saw the plug pulled on a Las Vegas rematch this autumn, leaving Joshua to survey a division which denies him the kind of classic rivalries that great heavyweights of the past enjoyed.

But Joshua is relaxed about that fact as he prepares to defend his IBF and WBA heavyweight titles against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on October 28.

“I think legacy is down to fights,” said Joshua, who has knocked out all 19 of his opponents.

“I could fight Joe Bloggs, who the bookies don’t think can beat me, but he ends up putting up one hell of a fight that takes his stock up.

“That sort of thing creates the rivalry that Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman had, peak level fighters of their era who all ended up fighting each other.

“I don’t have that now, but you never know what’s going to happen.

“People might think Pulev’s going to be an easy fight, but he might come and put me in a place I haven’t been before.”

Joshua admits he will be paying close attention to Joseph Parker’s WBO title defence against Hughie Fury in Manchester next weekend.

“Parker’s another one, we have to come together to keep the division alive,” Joshua said.

“All heavyweights have got an opportunity to make a big play in the division, and I’ll definitely give all these guys an opportunity to come and challenge for the belt.

“If I fought Daniel Dubois or Joe Joyce tomorrow it will be a big fight, it’s just the way the division’s rocking at the minute.

“People either want to see me knock someone out cold or to see them knock me out cold.”