Anthony Joshua says he’s going to walk through Kubrat Pulev, and then he’ll be looking to do the same thing to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) wants to regain his status as the #1 heavyweight on the planet, and to do that, he must beat Fury or whoever holds the WBC title when it comes time for him to fight for the belt.
Joshua, 29, redeemed himself last December in avenging his only career defeat in beating Andy Ruiz Jr. by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision.
However, Fury did one better by stopping former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in the 7th round last February.
With Joshua expected to face his IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev and Fury taking on Wilder in a trilogy, the winner of those two fights need to identify who the #1 guy is at heavyweight.
“Oh yeah,” said Joshua to SI Boxing with Chris Mannix, when asked if he was tempted to take some verbal shots at Deontay Wilder after his loss to Fury. “I went into my drawer and pulled out my long list of things to say.
“You don’t knock a man when he’s down. That was at the top of the list, so I have to stand by those principles. Me and Wilder are cut from a different cloth. He’s what we call, it begins with a ‘B’ and ends with an ‘H.’ I’m not like that, I’m more of a man. I don’t get on the Internet talking crap.
The only time you saw me talking recklessly was against Dillian Whyte and Jarrell Miller. Other than that, I’m an ambassador of the sport; I’m trying to be clean and represent my sponsorships and represent DAZN properly.
“I try to stay away from the typical stereotype of a heavyweight boxer. It’s difficult, but I have it in me to fire up and talk recklessly when needed,” said Joshua.
“The only reason is because of the Ruiz fight, and that’s why I want to redeem them and put the trust back in my stable,” said Joshua in commenting on the likelihood that Fury will be the favorite against him.
“It’s such a shame that I’m in quarantine right now because it’s put a halt to greatness. I’m working towards beating Tyson Fury. Whether the doubters want to be with me or not, I have to beat him.
I’m working towards beating Fury. I’ve gotta look through Pulev; I’m gonna walk through Pulev. He ain’t on my level; I’m walking through him. I want the boys at the top. I’m not worried about the boys around me. I’m looking at Fury like I’m gonna walk through him as well.
“And I’m working through them all, and that’s the mindset we have to have as fighters. So I’m looking at Tyson Fury like I’m going to walk through him as well. I had my issues last year, and I got through it. People don’t know what that does to a fighter when he loses in front of the world and has to come back,” said Joshua.