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Joshua: I know I’ve got a lot of fire in my belly

Anthony Joshua talks about his expectations for tomorrow’s title defense against Alexander Povetkin.

Wil Esco is an assistant editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2014.

During the final press conference for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title defense against Alexander Povetkin tomorrow, the champion talks about what goes through his mind before a fight like this and how he deals with it...

Joshua on how much pressure he feels going into tomorrow’s fight with Povetkin:

“Loads of pressure. Tons of pressure. But that’s the reality of it...even though we present ourselves as calm, cool, and collected, underneath all that we both know what we’re in for. Not only this fight with Povetkin, every fight I’ve been in, and every future fight I’ll be in — all comes with the same pressure. So just gotta roll with the punches, and what more can I do except give my best and that’s what I’m gonna do Saturday night — go out there, if he’s strong to the head, I’ll whip him to the body. If he’s strong to the body, I’ll whip him to the head. Find a way to win and grind it out...

“Skills aside, experience aside, I’ve fought with a lot of heart and I know I’ve got a lot of fire in my belly so, that’s just as important, I think, as skills. So over the time I’ve built up my skills but besides that I know I’ve got a lot of fire in my stomach.”

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