Anthony Joshua 26-3 (23) has admitted to giving the media a frosty reception this week but he says there is good reason for it.
The 34-year-old former two-time unified heavyweight champion of Britain is days away for his fight against 33-year-old Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin 26-1 (14) at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The bout will headline the massive eight fight ‘Day of Reckoning’ card.
Joshua, who has given the media short shrift in the lead-up to the fight, says he is “here to fight, not to party”.
“I want to fight. I want to perform well. Put that pressure on myself,” Joshua said to the BBC. “I’m here to fight, I’m not here to party and get caught up in the glitz and glamour.
“Of course I’m tense because I want to perform, I want to win. I’ve got that urge to win and I want to hurt my opponent as well.”
If Joshua gets the win, he is expected to face former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder 43-2-1 (42) next year – providing the 38-year-old American is successful against former WBO champion Joseph Parker 33-3 (23) of New Zealand on the same card.
Joshua added: “I can definitely window shop, I know where I’m going in my life. If I don’t get past this there is no future.”
At the final press conference, Wilder was asked about his thoughts on Joshua.
“Honestly I see a man that’s been focusing on the task that lies at hand,” he said. “I’m not in his head, so I can’t speak for him. A lot of people have asked me about his mannerisms, his demeanour, the way he’s been reacting to the media and the questions about me.
“I can’t speak for him. We’re on the outside looking in. We’ll see. He has a big task to complete; I have one as well. When it’s all over, we can talk about it.”
Joshua added: “Pure focus on Saturday, that’s where my heart, soul and every cell in my body is focused. I wanna perform well. I put that pressure on myself; of course, I’m tense. I wanna hurt my opponent.”
While Joshua has be largely disengaged with the media, Wallin has been filling the void, describing his opponent as “mentally weak”.
Joshua laughed at the suggestion Wallin was relying on his mental state to win the fight.
“If that’s what he’s banking on,” Joshua said to talkSPORT. “He should be banking on his skills, his skillset.
“He should be banking on the fact he’s worked hard, he trusts his skills and he thinks he’s good enough.
“He shouldn’t be banking on whether I’m mentally strong or not.
“That’s crazy to go into a fight and hope that the fighter you’re fighting isn’t mentally strong and that gives you an opportunity to beat them.
“What I’m banking on is my confidence, my strength, my durability, my chin, my heart, my fitness, my skills.
“It’s nothing to do with Otto.
“Everything I’m banking on is everything to do with me.
“That’s what’s giving me confidence.”
