By Declan Taylor
ANTHONY JOSHUA says he is ‘willing to die’ in his pursuit of victory over Daniel Dubois on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old challenges his fellow Londoner for the IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night and knows defeat could end his hopes of ever becoming undisputed champion.
Joshua has so far suffered three defeats in his career, including an unforgettable stoppage at the hands of underdog Andy Ruiz at Madison Square Garden, but he is now adamant he will stop at nothing against Dubois.
The 2012 Olympic champion said: “Of course there is danger against Dubois but let me tell you, this is the thing with fighting: it takes more than being strong to be a champion and to be a complete fighter.
“It’s good of course but I truly believe from what I’ve studied, read and what great people who have come before me have said – it takes more than being a physical specimen. It’s a good attribute but when you come across someone who is willing to take that from you, you’ve given them your best shot and they are able to take it, that’s when you figure out what it takes to be a champion.
“That’s what I’ve done. I’ve been to the well. He’s fighting someone who is willing to die in there – who wants to give it everything to be victorious.”
However, Joshua admits that even if he wakes up on Sunday as history’s fifth three-weight world champion, very little will change.
He added: “Do you know what’s crazy, on Sunday morning you wake up and it’s the same. Your bills still come out of your account, you’ve got to do your washing, it’s all the same.
“When I was in Saudi in the Air BnB I was just there ironing and washing after the Francis Ngannou fight. It’s mad. The only difference is that it hurts losing. It takes a few weeks to get over. Time is the best healer.
“When you win, you’re on a high and you want to experience that. When you lose, you get low and it takes time to get back balanced. After the Ngannou fight, everything was good, you’re riding that wave. Hopefully we do that on Saturday as well. I’ve given Daniel respect in order to get the victory.
“Everything I’ve done in the past, we have to draw a line under because I can’t take that with me on Saturday night. In that moment, that’s all that matters.”
