Anthony Joshua has warned Kubrat Pulev that he still has a ‘killer’ instinct when he steps in the ring. The two heavyweights go head-to-head at Wembley on Saturday night and Joshua has vowed to ‘take out’ his opponent after the two nearly came to blows during the weigh-in.
Joshua puts his WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line against the 39-year-old IBF mandatory challenger at the SSE Arena and sent a chilling warning about how he intends to approach the fight.
“I’ve been destructive ever since I started boxing,” said Joshua.
“I’m ready for a 12-round fight if that’s the case. And if a shot lands and causes a lot of damage, I will be looking to take him out. That instinct doesn’t leave someone.
“Once a killer, always a killer. I sleep good.
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Even after being pulled apart, the two continued the verbal altercation until Joshua decided to leave.
“He has spoken a lot of rubbish and now he has to back it up,” the Brit added.
“If you don’t know boxing then that sort of thing could intimidate you. I could have whacked him up there, but I have to save it for tomorrow.
“When people come in the ring with me they are confident, but I take their soul away and get them out of there.”
Speaking afterwards, Pulev confirmed he told his rival that he would win their long-awaited clash.
He said: “I am the better boxer. I told him I will show him that tomorrow and he didn’t like it.”
Joshua is back in action for the first time in a year after regaining his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr last December.
The American caused a stunning upset just six months earlier, handing Joshua his first defeat as a professional.
Weighing in at 240.8lbs, Joshua goes into his latest fight slightly heavier than Pulev at 239.7lbs.