l about me – I lived for ut then when I had my arted realising there is who is going to be here gone. what he taught me, build g that they will respect eciate when I’m not here ” spars with Bear as he hy he got into boxing – bee gym was somewhere ould go without prejudice. was a community in the it doesn’t matter your ur religion, your body type, there was space for everyone,” he says.
“I ended up having my first fight at 19. I knocked him out and I thought it was easy.”
Joshua teaches Bear the art of the “face-off”. He explains: “It’s letting your opponent know that there is no fear.
“I look beyond the eyes, I’m looking into your soul. Defend, encounter, defend, encounter – but don’t switch off.”
He also reveals he changed his kit to all-white in honour of Muhammad Ali, adding: “He was one of the greatest dancers, he had finesse when he boxed.”
After getting in trouble with the police as a teenager, boxing helped AJ turn his life around.
He says: “The people in the gym really gave me guidance and wisdom. It really helped me change my outlook on what I thought was respect.
“Now I’ve unified the heavyweight division, the hard work begins – so if people think that it’s time to enjoy, they got it wrong.
“They’re going to see the real disciplined AJ now. We’re just getting started. I think that my apprenticeship is done. I’m going to take over.”
Bear’s Mission with Anthony Joshua is on ITV tomorrow at 9pm.
Watch the Joshua v Takam fight live at Vue cinemas (myvue.com) on Saturday.