Anthony Joshua breaks down how he will beat Deontay Wilder with heavyweights closing in on mouthwatering fight
ANTHONY JOSHUA believes he has the game plan ready to beat Deontay Wilder.
AJ, 33, secured his 26th professional win with a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius on Saturday night.
Joshua failed to enthral the O2 Arena crowd – who booed him during the contest – and looked largely unconvincing for most of the fight.
He did land a big right hand which ultimately ended the contest against the veteran Finland fighter.
And now the former heavyweight world champion is eyeing a showdown with fellow fallen star Wilder for a possible January date in Saudi Arabia.
Like AJ, the Bronze Bomber is rebuilding his career after squandering his belt in the incredible trilogy against Tyson Fury.
But Joshua – who has three defeats on his record – is confident he has what it takes to beat the heavy-hitting Wilder, who possesses one of the most powerful punches in boxing history.
AJ said about his tactics should he step into the ring with the American: “This is a game of chess.
“I’m gonna take away Wilder’s best attributes.
“I’m not gonna stand there with my chin in the air and say, ‘Hit me.’
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“I’m gonna nullify him. It will be very challenging for him for sure.”
Joshua celebrated his laboured victory over late replacement Helenius with a crude gesture inside the ring before jumping out to take a sip of Conor McGregor’s pint.
And then he took a swipe at the supporters inside the O2 who jeered him – but insisted it did not impact his performance.
The Watford man said: “Not necessarily, I think they don’t understand it is competitive boxing.
“I was watching certain fights tonight and they didn’t look as exciting as I thought they would.
“Were they booing me or Helenius? That is the question, who were they booing?”
The reporter then suggested that fans wanted a quicker knockout.
AJ hit back, saying with a shrug: “Have any of them ever boxed before?”
He was also quizzed on if he was happy with his display, responding: “That is for my coach [Derrick James], I don’t really rate my performances, whatever the coach thinks.
“We can go back to the drawing board and I know there is a lot of things we can improve on.
“I felt better than I did in April [versus Jermaine Franklin] and that is the main thing.”