Anthony Joshua is aiming to eliminate Deontay Wilder before stoppage time in the event that a unifying world title bout holds in 2020.
The rival heavyweight champions hold all four titles between them, with Joshua regaining his WBA ‘Super’, IBF and WBO belts in a rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr, while Wilder defended his WBC strap with a seventh-round knockout win over Luis Ortiz.
Analysing Wilder’s win over Ortiz, Joshua told Sky Sports: “He wouldn’t be there to do that in the seventh round. I would go in to knock him out. It’s heavyweight against heavyweight, champion against champion.”
Wilder’s punches are reputably fierce and heavy. In 2019 when Tyson Fury met the Bronze Bomber, the former was leading until Wilder landed a punch that got the Gypsy King down on the canvas in the 12th round.
Early last year, Wilder blew also aside Dominic Breazeale within a round. However, a wary Joshua says he’ll rather adopt a different approach than allow himself get hit.
“This is a serious fight, so I ain’t going to go in there to try and outbox him for 12 rounds, because of his punching power as well. I’ve got to go in there and take him out. Don’t let him get too comfortable in the ring with me.”
When asked if he was scared of the American, Joshua said: “Nah, not scary, but I know it’s there,”
“There are certain punches. Some are like concussive, some are stinging and some are like punches where they knock you out with one punch and you’re out for the count.
“Wilder possesses that kind of power. It’s about eliminating that power and just studying how to deal with it really.”
Joshua is awaiting news on his next fight after being ordered to make title defences against Kubrat Pulev and Oleksandr Usyk, his IBF and WBO mandatory challengers.
Wilder, on the other hand has been confirmed to fight Tyson Fury in a rematch at Las Vegas on February 22.
