EXCLUSIVE Anthony Joshua: ‘This is it now’

Anthony Joshua versus Hughie Fury

THE dome of the O2 stretches high above their heads, a long line of people lean against a metal barrier. They hold gloves, pens, photos, phones, all waiting for an autograph or a picture with the aspiring heavyweight champion of the world. Anthony Joshua processes along the line, shaking hands, smiling happily, youโ€™d have thought he was running for office rather than waiting out the final 24 hours before the most important fight of his life.

It takes a long time to work the crowd, two hours at least, after weighing in, greeting Shannon Briggs and getting through his TV interviews. It is perhaps not ideal preparation for a title fight. Does signing the autographs, taking the selfies not get boring, I ask. โ€œIt is a bit but do they get bored of waiting two hours, three hours? So itโ€™s a give and take type relationship. Some people donโ€™t like doing it but I do appreciate them,โ€ Joshua replies.

He continues with a laugh, โ€œIโ€™m campaigning. But itโ€™s not fake, as I said itโ€™s the point that theyโ€™ve waited three hours for me so Iโ€™m just giving something back to them.โ€

There are different sides to Joshua, the amiable giant with his public, the vicious destroyer in the ring whoโ€™s knocked out all 15 of his professional opponents. People are complicated but boxers it seems are rarely allowed different dimensions. They are styled as a benign Frank Bruno-type or a ferocious, brutal Mike Tyson. Joshua doesnโ€™t fit easily into a simple definition. โ€œItโ€™s one or the other in boxing,โ€ Joshua says but he adds, โ€œYouโ€™ve got a good ground in boxing to show your character to the people and just be natural with them. This is your chance to announce yourself.

โ€œWeโ€™re all representing each other. Iโ€™m a representation of the people Iโ€™m aroundโ€ฆ Itโ€™s a chance to show who we are and gain respect from masses of people.โ€

Joshua has built his profile, particularly with Decemberโ€™s exhilarating win over London rival Dillian Whyte. โ€œItโ€™s all important building steps. I could have gone in there and blasted Dillian Whyte out in a round and it wouldnโ€™t have been so good ahead of this type of fight. The fact that we had the hype, then so much of the aftermath, itโ€™s really good because it led to this. I havenโ€™t really stepped off the train. So for me my 1-14 fights I was on the train, then I stepped off the train, then we got to the next chapter and I feel with that fight with Dillian weโ€™re back on that roller coaster now,โ€ he said. โ€œItโ€™s a good continuous flow of motion towards the IBF title so it was really important to have that fight. Even though this is so big, I havenโ€™t really stepped off the barrier and tried to walk up the mountain, Iโ€™ve steadily climbed it, so itโ€™s not so much of a big deal to me. Not so much of a big deal. Iโ€™m still on the road to major fights. If I beat Charles, weโ€™re still on that road to another major fight. So weโ€™re all motion right now.

โ€œThe thing is I need to win tomorrow.โ€

He speaks back stage at the O2, leaning against the side of a parked van as insouciantly as a six foot six, 244lbs heavyweight can. In a day Joshuaโ€™s campaign reaches its moment of truth. He will challenge IBF world champion Charles Martin. Yet Joshua is relaxed. โ€œCalm, man,โ€ as he puts it. โ€œBecause Iโ€™m here. Thereโ€™s no running away from it now. Iโ€™ve got to handle business. So Iโ€™ve just got to keep my nut down, give the fans what they want and just handle business in the best way possible.โ€

Eventually heโ€™ll have to turn his full attention to the fight itself. โ€œItโ€™s hard because so much time talking to the fans now you just want to kind of block [yourself] away. Then youโ€™ve got to see your family and stuff,โ€ he said. โ€œI donโ€™t get to spend much time with the family because Iโ€™m always training.

โ€œItโ€™s only until I get that break away from everything I can kind of get my head into to it. Itโ€™s a circus, youโ€™re an entertainer. Iโ€™m going to entertain everyoneโ€™s needs. Until you can get yourself away and just focus on yourself thatโ€™s when you lock yourself away for the fight.โ€

Prizefighting is a test of nerve. Hard work, long waits punctuated by moments of high tension. In this final week Joshua has gone from performing in a public workout at York Hall, putting the final touches on his own training, to standing on a stage to weigh in before his crowd on the concourse at the O2.

โ€œItโ€™s always a new experience really, in that sense where your nerves are going. Do I feel any different from when I felt for the December 12 fight? Youโ€™re always trying to calculate yourself. I feel calm I feel relaxed. If I can go in there with that same attitude, hold my nerves for the fight I should be in a good place,โ€ he reflects.

Joshua has to keep his composure on Saturday night. But so too has the champion. Martin has been a hard man to read in the build up to this. The American is laidback for the most part, relaxed, but Joshua notes, โ€œVery strange, then heโ€™ll be like, โ€˜Iโ€™m keeping my belt!โ€™ He just says things randomly. So I donโ€™t know whether itโ€™s the nerves. It is a big occasion. You canโ€™t deny it. The UK scene is big now, you know what I mean? I think maybe itโ€™s the nerves, a certain thing. That makes a dangerous person when they come out and do reckless things.โ€

โ€œI think itโ€™s going to be an interesting boxing match,โ€ Joshua continued. โ€œI think heโ€™ll respect me towards the end of the fight and Iโ€™ll respect him. May the best man win. Iโ€™ll take him out for a pint. I donโ€™t drink, but if he wants a pint. Heโ€™s one of those characters whoโ€™s a lot different to some of those people Iโ€™ve been in the ring with,โ€ Anthony continued. โ€œJust the respect, especially as the champion, more respect.โ€

Friday was their final chance to read one another before the fight, going head to head up on the stage after the weigh in. โ€œI can only look how I look,โ€ Joshua said. โ€œStand up properly. Brace myself and I say, โ€˜This is it nowโ€™, soul to soul, eye to eye. Itโ€™s the last time I see him. Before we step in the ring.โ€

The wait is almost over. Tomorrow has finally come.

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