Thursday 17 November 2016 14:48, UK
Eric Molina has vowed to hit Anthony Joshua "harder than he's ever been hit" after being confirmed as the next opponent for the IBF heavyweight champion.
The American will attempt to rip the belt from Joshua at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and he issued a grim warning to the unbeaten Londoner.
Molina hurt the WBC champion Deontay Wilder in the third round of a hard-fought defeat last year and is confident he will not let Joshua off the hook when he lands his biggest punches.
"I can definitely say one thing, I will hit AJ harder than he's ever been hit," Molina exclusively told Sky Sports.
"That's going to happen on December 10. I will hit him harder than he's ever been hit and if he dances, and I can get him hurt, I will not sit back like I sat back with Wilder.
"I'll have to attack, if I have him hurt. I'm going for the kill."
The 34-year-old is proud of his Mexican heritage and has vowed to "go through hell" to pull off a historic win.
"This is about another American champion, but this is also about the first Mexican heavyweight champion," said the Texas-born fighter.
This is my dream to fight in the UK. I'm looking forward to visiting, I'm looking forward to fighting and I'm looking forward to upsetting their superstar.
"The thing that people fail to realise, is that when you put that on the line, you get a fighter who is willing to go through hell to make history. That's what I will bring to the table.
"Whatever anybody has seen on me or hasn't seen on me, that night they will see that particular fighter that is willing to do that, to make history.
"This is my dream to fight in the UK. I'm looking forward to visiting, I'm looking forward to fighting, and I'm looking forward to upsetting their superstar."
Molina enjoyed success on his last trip outside the USA, stopping former world champion Tomasz Adamek in Poland this April, and is not daunted by the prospect of battling Joshua in front of thousands of British fans.
"This is going to be the toughest fight of his career and only because I'm that fighter that has gone better throughout my career," said Molina. "I've gone better every fight, up until my last fight, up until now.
"He'll fight the toughest Molina that anybody has ever seen, just like Adamek fought the toughest Molina that was seen before him.
"I'm confident. These type of fights don't shake me up, I'm a very strong mental fighter. I know exactly what I've got to do to prepare myself in the amount of time. I know exactly what I've got to do, mentally, physically, to go there and perform.
"When you walk out into the atmosphere, half the battle is the mental battle, and if you can stay in the moment mentally you have a shot in any fight."
