Anthony Joshua insists he is relishing the chance to prove himself again as he claims he will ‘overcome’ his career setbacks and settle his score with domestic rival Dillian Whyte next month.
- Anthony Joshua has lost two of his last three fights and is looking to rebuild
- He believes he is on the right path and can return to the top of the division
- He is set to face domestic rival Dillian Whyte at the O2 Arena on August 12.
Anthony Joshua has insisted he is getting his career on track ahead of his huge domestic showdown with Dillian Whyte next month.
The 33-year-old is looking to rebuild after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. He found his way back to winning ways by edging Jermaine Franklin in April, but delivered a lackluster performance that drew criticism from fans and experts.
The fight was his first under new trainer Derrick James after Joshua decided to step away from the comforts of home to team up with the American in Texas.
Failing to shine against Franklin, questions have been raised as to whether the change in environment has benefited Joshua.
The two-time world champion, however, is happy with his current set-up and feels he is doing everything to get back to the top of the heavyweight division.
Anthony Joshua (left) thinks his decision to team up with Derrick James (right) will pay off
Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin in April but failed to dazzle against his American opponent
“The beautiful thing about sport is that there’s always a next opportunity to prove yourself so no matter what, there’s a process that I follow and I just know that if we look at the history, everything will be fine for me,” he said. .
“I just have to ride the wave, stay consistent, stay focused and when the opportunity arises…everyone can write you off, but if you believe in yourself and continue your journey, you will overcome 100%.
‘Only you can defeat yourself. Nobody else.
Joshua has claimed he would retire if he loses to Franklin, but now appears to have no intention of hanging up the gloves anytime soon.
After making a name for himself as a knockout artist early in his professional career, Joshua has now gone nearly three years without a stoppage win.
There are doubts whether Joshua still has the badness in him that saw him dominate boxing’s Blue Division, but he thinks he shouldn’t be written off just yet.
“If I give up and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I don’t have it anymore,’ then you can say I’m not the same fighter anymore. But I just know it’s going to work,” he continued. .
“People look at you like you’re crazy, which people are probably thinking now, (asking) ‘why isn’t he aggressive?’ I just know what I’m doing is going to work at the right time.
Joshua’s next test will be against fellow Briton Whyte in a sold-out O2 Arena on August 12.
Their first meeting in the professional ranks came eight years ago, with Joshua knocking out Whyte with a vicious uppercut in the seventh round.
Joshua is set to face Dillian Whyte in a rematch of their thrilling first fight in 2015
Joshua is unsure whether Whyte has improved since and wondered why his rival has changed coaches so regularly in recent years, but admits it won’t be an easy night’s work in the capital.
“What Dillian lacks in some areas he makes up for in others. Has he improved? I don’t think he’s improved hugely, but he’s maintained his level,’ Joshua concluded.
‘Look how many times he changed coaches. He changed coaches so many times. Maybe he’s not developing at the rate he needs to, or people aren’t teaching him the things he needs to learn and that’s not good enough. He probably knows it himself.
“That’s probably why he changed coaches so much. I was thinking about that the other day. He was with Okoh, Tibbs, Xavier, Buddy McGirt, Johnathon Banks, but one thing he has, c It’s the fight and in America they call it the dog. It’s got the dog in it.