Anthony Joshua ready to suffer as he eyes third world heavyweight title

By Duncan Bech, PA

Anthony Joshua has warned Daniel Dubois he is willing to suffer in the ring in his pursuit of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion.

Joshua faces IBF title holder Dubois in front of a British record 96,000 crowd at Wembley on Saturday with the aim of earning a shot against the winner of Tyson Fury’s December rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Defeats to Andy Ruiz and Usyk have forced the 34-year-old to rebuild his career and, while he views big-punching rival Dubois as a dangerous opponent, he insists his determination sets him apart.

“I’ve been to the well. Dan’s fighting someone who is willing to die in there, who wants to give it everything to be victorious,” Joshua said.

“The thing with fighting is this – 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.

“That’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.”

Even if Joshua joins greats such as Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield by becoming world heavyweight champion for the third time, he will still be doing the household chores the following morning.

“Do you know what’s crazy? On Sunday you wake up and it’s the same,” he said ahead of his second fight of the year, having brutally knocked out Francis Ngannou in March.

“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 Arabia in the Airbnb after the Ngannou fight, I was just there ironing and washing. 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.”

Joshua has been the heavyweight division’s pre-eminent fighter since turning professional in the wake of winning Olympic gold in 2012.

Usyk may have eclipsed him by becoming undisputed champion at Fury’s expense in May, while Fury’s success has also given Britain moments to celebrate, but it is Joshua who has campaigned in front of bumper stadium crowds on these shores.

Dubois is benefiting from the profile Joshua has given the sport, but the challenger wants nothing in return except a hard fight.

“Daniel owes me nothing. The only thing he owes me is a punch and that’s it,” Joshua said.

“I don’t want anything else from him. I don’t want his respect or anything else. I have to earn it if I want it.

“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.”