Anthony Joshua has shed some light on his game plan for his seemingly imminent meeting with Tyson Fury. The most anticipated fight in the history of British boxing is within touching distance.
All that remains for the pair, who have already agreed a two-fight unification bout deal, to share the ring next is for them to win their respective bouts against Kubrat Pulev and Deontay Wilder.
Despite having a formidable task in Pulev ahead of him, unified heavyweight champion Joshua can’t help but think of the long-awaited Battle of Britain.
‘AJ’ has studied hours of tape on Fury and has visualised how the fight will play out several times.
And he firmly believes there’s a vulnerability in the body defence of ‘The Gypsy King’ that he can exploit.
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He told Sky Sports: “We’ve got to put them on an equal playing field because if I say ‘I’ve got the bigger test’ or ‘he’s got the bigger test’, you never know what’s going to happen.
“They’re both banana skin fights. It’s like ‘get past this one then there’s the big one next’, so this one is just as important as the big one.
“When the time’s right we’ll fight. We’re keen but I’ve got Kubrat Pulev first which is a mandatory defence, which I have to do. Once I get past that I’m a free agent.
“I’m going to say we’ll fight next year but everything else that comes with it, I’ve just got to put to the back of my mind and just focus on Kubrat Pulev.
“Once I get past him, hopefully, Fury will be the next one in line.”
Joshua’s clash with Pulev is tentatively slated to take place at London’s O2 Arena on December 12.
Fury’s trilogy fight with Wilder, meanwhile, is expected to land at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on December 19.