British boxing star Anthony Joshua has spoken candidly about the “pain” he has endured throughout his career as he prepares for his IBF world heavyweight title clash against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium this Saturday.
Joshua, 34, is on a mission to reclaim a world title for the first time since his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021, and he reflected on the internal battles he’s faced in trying to return to the top of the sport. Joshua’s efforts to regain his title were thwarted once again in August 2022 when he lost to Usyk in a rematch.
“I’ve worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I’ve worked hard to get better,” Joshua told the BBC. “Hopefully, those experiences won’t happen again because, as you saw that night [after the second Usyk loss], I don’t like losing.”
Since his 2022 defeat in Saudi Arabia, Joshua has rebuilt his career, securing notable wins over opponents such as Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and former UFC star Francis Ngannou. Joshua delivered a brutal knockout against Ngannou in the second round of their recent fight, underscoring his return to form.
“I think I’m gifted with an ability to fight and compete. In boxing, you’re able to read certain tendencies, you’re able to read your opponent, so I can always have an eye for that,” Joshua explained. “But there’s a supreme level that you can take it to. And it’s happened over the past eight or 10 months. I’ve really honed in on those skills.”
Joshua’s upcoming showdown with Dubois is set to take place in front of a packed crowd of 96,000 fans at Wembley, the national stadium of English football. The high-stakes bout could position the winner to face either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, depending on the outcome of their highly anticipated rematch scheduled for December.
Joshua, a former unified heavyweight champion, is eager to reclaim his position at the top of the heavyweight division, with many eyes on him to see if he can overcome Dubois and secure another shot at a world title.
As fight night approaches, Joshua’s determination to return to boxing’s elite shines through, fueled by the lessons he has learned from past defeats and his desire to keep pushing forward.
source: punchng.com