Wednesday 14 December 2016 18:01, UK
Wladimir Klitschko says he is "obsessed" with becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion and is taking inspiration from the words of his late trainer Emanuel Steward ahead of his showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Klitschko is preparing to challenge unbeaten IBF world champion Joshua in a unification bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, live on Sky Sports Box Office, with the vacant WBA 'super' title also on the line.
The former IBF, WBA and WBO champion has not fought since his surprise unanimous points decision loss to Tyson Fury in November 2015 and will be 41 when he steps into the ring to face Joshua, a man 14 years his junior.
Klitschko, who watched Joshua defeat Eric Molina inside three rounds from ringside on Saturday, will be fighting on British soil for only the second time in his illustrious career and, ahead of the bout, revealed his five-point plan for achieving victory.
"I will describe in five steps my dream and how I feel. It's like in the same way a boxer cannot punch with one finger, even with two he is not strong enough, so we have five steps and if I put these five steps together that makes a fist that can punch through anything in life," he said.
"So, in the first step, my goal and target is to become a three-time world champion. I have been holding myself back for a year and half, which was the first time in my entire 26-year career and I look forward to being back in the ring, like I said to become a three-time world champion.
"The second step, the consequences. What is going to happen if Anthony will win this fight? I will congratulate you, Anthony. When I will win this fight, I will help you to come back.
"In the third step, obviously I am going to need somebody that is going to help me get into the perfect shape, so we'll have sparring partners. My direct competitors, they want to knock me out in the ring and during sparring session.
"We're probably going to look for the same guys because, we're the same size, same arm length, all the same, different colours, but the rest is the same. Those sparring partners will help me get into better shape.
"In the fourth step, I imagine standing in the middle of this stadium, holding those belts in my hands to all the fans. I have a dream to hold those belts in my hands.
"And the fifth and final step, which is very important to me, I am obsessed with my first step and with my goal to become a world champion again."
Klitschko confirmed he would be retaining the services of trainer Johnathon Banks for the clash with Joshua, despite the American overseeing the camp that led to his defeat against Fury.
Prior to working with Banks, Klitschko had trained alongside the legendary Steward up until the American's death in October 2012 and the Ukrainian will be drawing on his former trainer's words ahead of his match up with Joshua.
"I feel that my last performance was not good, I was not holding my hand up after the fight," he said.
"I would tell my motivation is as high as the sky. Now, I have to wake up, it was a wake-up call before this big event and I would remember right now, the words of Emanuel Steward, he always said to me, 'Wladimir, your signature fights are going to come up, we don't know when it's going to happen'.
"But this man was so right, this is definitely a signature fight for Anthony and for myself. So, I look forward to it."
