"As I've said, I've got the hunger, I've got the dedication. I feel stronger and I feel like I can't be stopped. That's why I'm looking forward to my next one...It's going to be against someone who's been at world level, you know, and everyone that fought Klitschko has lost, so someone who boxed Klitschko, but put up a good performance. I could tell you that...I need to get out to the States one way or the other," stated undefeated IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who unveiled his plans for heavyweight unification. You don't want to miss what he had to say about his next opponent, the current state of the heavyweight division, and much more in this exclusive interview!
BT: Looking at the current state of the heavyweight division, now that you've reached the mountain top, is it as challenging as you always envisioned it to be?
AJ: I don't think it's as challenging. I thought...we had the recent loss of Wladimir Klitschko, so I predicted that Klitschko would have been gone. I predicted Bryant Jennings would be more active than he is. Deontay Wilder is a good champion, but he's still, at 33 fights, you can see he's still learning a lot, so it's quite a unique situation for him because I think what makes people so interested with Wilder is that he's still in a position where he can be in a 50/50 fight, you know. As a champion at 34 fights and so many knockouts, people are still wary that this guy can be beat by the right guy, so that's why I don't see it as strong as I predicted it to be. You know, Wladimir Klitschko's just lost. Bryant Jennings isn't as active; Jennings was on the way out in like 2013. Wilder's still unknown; had a good win against Stiverne, I'll give him that, and that's as far as it goes really. And who else have we got? David Haye's had his shoulder injury and not got much respect right now. I'm not saying it's weak, but what I'm saying is there's definitely room; there's definitely room right now. Chisora was there, Vitali, Wladimir was doing well, David Pryce was on the come up, Bryant Jennings was active; you know, I could have definitely penetrated my way through [back then], but at 16 fights, 17 fights, I achieved getting my hands on the IBF strap, so the gaps are definitely opening up.
BT: Most people would consider Tyson Fury to be the man at heavyweight because he beat Wladimir Klitschko. Now that you're a champion and you defended your title, I'm sure you disagree with that opinion. Do you have the mindset that the division is already yours?
AJ: I feel that way. I definitely feel that way. I'm growing in confidence. The hard work's never been the issue. The attitude has never been the issue towards the fight. It's just, I've been boxing, what, 8 years, so I'm building up my confidence. I went away recently. You know, it's the first time I've had time off of training and my body's just developed. You know when you have a break from training, you're body can either go derail or it can heal up. My body's grown. I feel a lot stronger than I ever have. That's what you need. As I've said, I've got the hunger, I've got the dedication. I feel stronger and I feel like I can't be stopped. That's why I'm looking forward to my next one.
BT: Is that type of confidence a good thing or a dangerous thing to take into a fight?
AJ: Dangerous!
BT: Why?
AJ: Yeah because, of course, I fear this man, he can beat me, do you know what I mean. I'm confident enough to have taken the fight and got myself into position where I'm in the ring, but then I'm looking and I'm thinking, "If I make mistakes, then, you know, this could be, my gravy train, there could be a big stop to this right now." So yeah, the confidence is like, I've got myself here, but I really need to perform; I don't want to let myself down.
BT: Domestic fights are big in the UK. I'm sure most people would agree that a guy like David Haye is a no-brainer to be a potential opponent for you in a blockbuster "domestic dust-up," as they like to say over there (laughing). Does a fight like that even interest you at this point in your career or are you more focused on unifying the division?
AJ: I think I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I can fight any fight. The reason why I'm not calling out heavyweights right now is because boxing's about marketing as well; we all know that. I feel like, if I fight David Haye, I fight David Haye. I don't need to talk about it until the cows come home to make it happen. You know, my coach can probably call David Haye and all it's down to is negotiations. So what David Haye is more about is, "Anthony, if we fight David Haye, is it the right time for your career?" That's what a decision's made on, and then until that case, you'll never really hear me call out a fighter. I don't need to promote a fight before it's agreed. I think we're in a position to just keep on bubbling; I do enough stuff to keep my name alive and I don't need to make my name hot off of any other fighter. I don't need to say David Haye's name for people to remember me, if you know where I'm coming from. I only mention these guys' names when they're relevant. There's a bit of business sense to it, I get it at the same time. And sometimes I do understand that these people may just look lively, so I respect that as well. So I understand the two sides of it, but I look at most of these guys and I just think they're doing it to keep their name hot as well.
BT: Do you already know the route you plan on taking to unify the titles? I know things can change pretty quickly in this sport, but for the most part, is the road map kind of already set in stone?
AJ: Let's say pretty much. Not the long term, but if I was to say, okay, cool, in my next fight, potentially it's going to be against someone who's been at world level, you know, and everyone that fought Klitschko has lost, so someone who boxed Klitschko, but put up a good performance. I could tell you that. Then, for instance, I've got a mandatory challenger against an up-and-coming fighter from New Zealand, Joseph Parker, so I could tell you that's definitely going to happen because I'm not planning on giving up my belt. Okay, then, God-willing, you know, we can't predict the future, I'm gonna train as if I'm gonna win, so I win that fight and then I'm gonna go and look at the options between my coach and say, "Coach, look, we've got an option of doing a big summer showdown in the UK. You know, how like Froch and Groves was." So hopefully Tyson Fury would have had his situation with Klitsckho sorted out and then potentially that could be a fight for the summer, you know. And I haven't really thought past there yet. So right up 'til now until summer of next year; and also next year, if I can, I'd love to come to the States and try and build up my respect as a fighter out there. I need to get out to the States one way or the other.
BE SURE TO CHECK BACK SOON FOR MUCH MORE OF THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH UNDEFEATED IBF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ANTHONY JOSHUA
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