UNIFIED world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua faced off with his next challenger, Bulgariaโs Kubrat Pulev at the Principality stadium in Cardiff, where the two will fight in front of almost 80,000 fans for the IBF and WBA titles on October 28.
There will be two more world title fights on the bill, with Kal Yafai due to defend his WBA super-flyweight belt against Japanโs Sho Ishida. Irish Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor will box for her first professional world title on the card, challenging Anahi Sanchez for the WBA lightweight title.
This occasion marks Joshuaโs first defence of the unified world title after the Britonโs thrilling victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley stadium in April.
โIโm looking forward to getting back in the ring,โ Joshua said. โNow I can show what I learned from my last fight.โ
โItโs about finesse,โ he added. โItโs about outclassing your opponents. But if I need to go to war, I can go to warโฆ I just look for the win one way or another.
โSometimes you can watch a million videos of your opponent and prepare for something but itโs always different when you step in the ring.
โI have to be prepared for the toughest challenges moving forward.โ
Joshua begins sparring this week. โWeโll leave no stone unturned,โ trainer Rob McCracken insisted. โHeโll put in a fantastic performance against an excellent challenger in Kubrat Pulev.โ
The champion is determined to defend his titles and continuing to satisfy his mandatory obligations. โWe arenโt ducking, weโre fighting back. We want to keep these belts,โ Joshua said. โEach challenge that presents itself is another hurdle.โ
โItโs no problem to get energised once again. We havenโt taken our foot off the gas since 2008,โ Joshua concluded. โWeโve got a long time to keep on achieving these type of things.โ