While news has circulated that Anthony Joshua will finally square off with Tyson Fury later on this year, the fight is dependent on both fighters coming through in interim bouts soon to take place. Joshua will be taking on little-known Kristian Prenga on July 25 while Fury is expected to formally announce his summer opponent shortly. What is known is that it will be a relatively soft touch for Fury as well — or at least that’s the hope because a slip up from either fighter could result in the big
fight between them getting scuttled. Here is some of what Joshua had to say about his upcoming fight and more.
On how he avoids a slip up against Prenga like he suffered against Ruiz
“I’m fully focused. No late changes. I’m not saying that’s the reason why I lost, Ruiz got me with good shot that I didn’t recover from and became champ. That was that. But for this fight I feel good, ready…I’m going to go in there and do what I know I can, and in general in boxing we’ve seen strange things happen…Still don’t give Prenga a chance because I’m on it. That was then, this is now.”
On attending Fury’s fight but not living up to expectations by facing off with him in the ring
“The expectations one has, has to be from themselves. That was never part of my plan. Expectations from the media, expectations from promoters and manages, expectations of the clout and hype of the fight — no. The expectations I had of myself was to turn up to the fight and watch Tyson Fury fight Makhmudov. I wanted to watch my potential future opponent, there was no contract in place, and I done that. So the expectations that I had of myself, why I was going to the fight, was met.”
On Fury’s tune up fight being aligned with his own
“I think it’s 10/10. I’ll be there.”
On Wardley taking an immediate rematch with Dubois
“100%. They’re warriors. What else are they going to do? Unless [Wardley] needs the time, I don’t know. But away from his personal life, from a fighting point of view, if he’s 100% focused — do it, man. Get in there. This is the heavyweight championship of the world.”
