Anthony Joshua said he wants to deliver a "spectacular" victory over Tyson Fury as he predicted the blockbuster heavyweight clash could end with a first-round knockout. The pair came face to face on Wednesday in London for the first time since the long-awaited all-British clash was confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff. The fight between the pair of two-time world champions, which has been a decade in the making, appeared to be in danger of falling through amid a dispute over where it would take place, with Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn pushing for it to be in the United Kingdom.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Asked what the fight means to him, Joshua told Sky Sports News: "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 don't like to make too much of it - it's just what we do - it would be amazing to get the victory in spectacular fashion." Joshua revealed that he wasn't necessarily willing to walk away from the fight if his push to have it staged in the UK had failed.
He said: "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're here, but I wasn't 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. "People who wanted it to be in the UK would have still been happy that it happened, but I think getting it here is the cherry and icing and everything that needs to be on top of the cake." Fury has been installed as an early favourite by bookmakers for the fight, with the fact Joshua has been floored in the opening round of two of his last three fights undoubtedly a factor.
Joshua admitted that he has "vulnerabilities" but insisted he is "hard to beat" and not considering retirement regardless of the outcome of the fight. Asked where he feels like he's at as a boxer, Joshua replied: "Durable, hard to beat, can show vulnerabilities, but makes it exciting for the fans at home. The Anthony Joshua journey doesn't end here." On his opponent, Joshua added: "He performs to the level he's at as well, if I'm honest.
"He's versatile, and he's a good little mover around in the ring." And as for what he expects to happen in the ring on December 11, Joshua said: "A knockout, if I'm honest with you. Could be in the first round." Asked whether that's his gameplan, Joshua added: "Yeah, it is."
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