Anthony Joshua: My magic is in a different league to Charles Martin's tricks

Anthony Joshua7 April 2016

Every fight brings a new challenge — and Saturday is no different as I come up against my first southpaw opponent in the paid ranks.

Facing a southpaw always comes with different angles and different tricks.

They lead on the side where their jabs can be effective.

With that in mind, I’ve got to keep my hands up and keep my head moving. I can’t go in recklessly because you can easily get counter- punched if that’s your approach.

That’s why sparring is important and having a successful camp is vital because you don’t want to go in and have boxes that you haven’t ticked on the night of the fight.

I’ve got some great sparring in, I’ve kept my head down and, with just over 48 hours to go before the fight, I know I’ve done all I can to prepare myself for Charles Martin.

I had my last spar yesterday as I am now in the team hotel for the press conference and weigh-in but, in the wake of that session, I feel sharp, strong and very, very ready.

Charles is an unknown quantity to a lot of people and that makes him an even more dangerous prospect in the ring.

I mustn’t be reckless as you can get counter-punched against a southpaw

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He obviously has a skill set, that goes without saying. He has to have it to be a world champion and be unbeaten.

I never underestimate my opponents, from my debut right through to what lies in wait on Saturday night but, if I win and win with style, that shows the level I’m at right now.

I do believe I am in a different league to him. That’s not being dismissive, I just know that the work and training I put in makes me better than him. I push and push and I squeeze the best out of myself in every single session I do. I think if we trained alongside each other, people would say I was the man, not him.

In Pictures | Anthony Joshua's professional fights

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He thinks he can knock me out and, after 12 weeks’ training, it goes without saying as a fighter that he should think that because I believe I am going to knock him out, too.

He could be able to take punches and stay in there for the distance but I believe I am going to beat him and do it well.

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