Anthony Joshua has insisted he has not thought about a potential rematch against Oleksandr Usyk as he welcomed being free of distractions ahead of his world heavyweight title fight showdown against Daniel Dubois.
Joshua headlines an historic all-British card at Wembley on Saturday as he fights ‘Dynamite’ Dubois for the IBF title in front of a record 96,000 fans.
The contest for the British star is the latest on his road to redemption after back-to-back losses to Usyk, the second coming in December 2022.
The 34-year-old enters the fight riding the momentum of recent victories over Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou. Now, Joshua is aiming to add Dubois to that list as he continues to rebuild his career after the setbacks at the hands of the Ukrainian star.
When asked about a rematch with Usyk, who he could face if the Ukrainian world champion beats Tyson Fury in their second bout in December, Joshua told Mail Sport: ‘I’m actually not thinking about that at the moment.
Anthony Joshua spoke to Mail Sport’s Charlotte Daly at the Grand Arrivals event on Tuesday
‘Daniel Dubois is a big enough challenge as it is. Not thinking about Usyk, I am 100 per cent focused on the job at hand. I haven’t had many distractions this time around and I am able to focus solely on Daniel Dubois. It’s been a blessing.’
Speaking in an exclusive walk-and-talk interview with Mail Sport, Joshua also opened up on what he deems to be success and how his life could have been very different.
A win over Dubois on Saturday night will place Joshua in the elite company of three-time heavyweight world champions, joining the likes of Lennox Lewis and Muhammad Ali.
A victory could also position Joshua for a shot at the undisputed heavyweight crown, setting up a potential blockbuster clash against the winner of the hotly-anticipated rematch between Usyk and Tyson Fury in December.
Joshua insisted he has not thought about a potential rematch against Oleksandr Usyk
But how does Joshua truly measure success? Speaking to Mail Sport, he said: ‘The number one way to measure success is getting through a training camp. That’s tough in and of itself. Getting through with no injuries and being healthy because you do a lot of combat training and it’s tough.
‘Getting through a training camp is a blessing. Success is getting good sleep. It’s an underrated thing. Honesty they are the two things I think about and they are the two things I am happy with when I get them.’
The former heavyweight champion was once on the wrong side of the law, finding himself in trouble as a young man. His most serious offence came in 2011 when he was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
At the time, Joshua’s boxing career was beginning to take off. He was part of the GB Boxing team and had already shown potential as a standout amateur.
Saturday’s contest is the latest on his road to redemption after back-to-back losses to Usyk
But the arrest was a major setback and during this period of turbulence, Joshua came under the supervision of Ian Duberry, his young offenders officer. Duberry played a pivotal role in guiding Joshua through a difficult time.
Duberry worked closely with Joshua to keep him focused and on the right track, recognising the talented boxer’s potential beyond his mistakes,
And Joshua will be reunited with Duberry on Saturday night given he is part of the Dubois team.
‘Yeah, having Ian Duberry here definitely makes me think about what life would have been like without boxing,’ Joshua said.
Joshua will be fighting ‘Dynamite’ Daniel Dubois for the IBF title in front of a record crowd
‘Life still would have been fun, there would have been less pressure on me but in terms of where boxing has taken me and matured me, I am definitely grateful for the sport.
‘I had different responsibilities when I was younger but becoming a boxer has made a man out of me. Even though life was fun living on the edge, now I can say I am a man. I was boy then. I am a man now. I make manly decisions.’