JOSHUA: A BORN WINNER

BOXING But Brit still wants more

ANTHONY JOSHUA feels he is a born winner – but has a burning desire for more glory.

That is thanks to an inspirational chat with Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, who passed on Sir Alex Ferguson’s drive for more success even when the peak has been reached. It will certainly be needed tonight. Joshua, 28, defends his WBA and IBF heavyweight titles against Carlos Takam in front of 78,000 fans at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. After his seismic showdown with Wladimir Klitschko in April, it understandably feels a bit flat as he faces a late replacement. But it is an important step for the ® heavyweight star with bigger and better fights on the horizon in 2018.

Defeat would not only be embarrassing but also disastrous for his career.

He knows he cannot dwell on the remarkable 11th-round stoppage of ring great Klitschko and speaking to Ferdinand recently, when the pair shared a private jet, will ensure he doesn’t.

Celebrating

Ferdinand was part of Ferguson’s United side in the 2000s that won six Premier League titles, two League Cups and a Champions League, while the former Old Trafford boss won a whopping 49 trophies in his career.

Joshua said: “I was speaking to Rio Ferdinand and that’s what he was saying, that the mindset years ago at Manchester United was, ‘What’s next?’.

“He said he would win a big game and everyone would be celebrating and he would be speaking to the gaffer and saying, ‘What’s