Anthony Joshua has predicted that his long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury could end in the opening round, declaring that he wants to deliver a spectacular victory when the pair meet on December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The two-time world champions came face to face on Wednesday in London for the first time since their all-British clash, a decade in the making, was finally confirmed.
The fight looked set to collapse amid a venue dispute, with Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, pushing for it to be staged in the United Kingdom.
Speaking to Sky Sports News on what the fight means to him, Joshua said bringing it to the UK mattered deeply because of the fans.
“It meant a lot to me because of the fans. Bringing it to the UK meant a lot to me for the fans. And for me personally, as much as it is just another fight because I do not like to make too much of it, it is just what we do. It would be amazing to get the victory in spectacular fashion,” he said.
Asked what he expects to happen in the ring, Joshua did not hold back. “A knockout, if I am honest with you. Could be in the first round,” he said, before confirming that was indeed his game plan.
Joshua revealed that he had not been willing to walk away from the fight entirely, even if his push for a UK venue had failed.
“I wanted to do everything I could to make it happen, and part of that was it being in the UK, and we got that, so we are here.”
But I was not completely willing to walk away from it because it still needed to go ahead. You just listen to the cries and the conversation of those people who love boxing and love competition,” he said.
Fury has been installed as an early favourite by bookmakers, with the fact that Joshua has been floored in the opening round of two of his last three fights considered a factor. Joshua, however, insisted he remains hard to beat despite acknowledging his vulnerabilities, and ruled out any thought of retirement regardless of the outcome.
“Durable, hard to beat, can show vulnerabilities, but makes it exciting for the fans at home. There is more to come. The Anthony Joshua journey does not end here,” he said.
On his opponent, Joshua added that Fury remained a dangerous and versatile fighter. “He performs to the level he is at as well, if I am honest. He is versatile, and he is a good little mover around in the ring,” he said.
The face-off itself was intense but largely respectful, with both men staring each other down without major incident, and Joshua even lightening the mood at one point with a playful interaction that drew smiles from his rival.
Fury, for his part, promised fireworks once the bell rings.
“I am going to come out, and I am going to blast him out of there. It will be a gunfight at the OK Corral. I am not going to run away. I am not going to box. I am going to throw down,” he said.
The bout will be contested for the WBA super heavyweight title and is expected to stream globally on Netflix, drawing a huge crowd to the Welsh capital.
