Joshua vs Breazeale: Dominic Breazeale promises upset
Monday 20 June 2016 19:00, UK
Dominic Breazeale has warned Anthony Joshua he is planning to take him into "unchartered territory" on Saturday night.
The American challenger will hear the opening bell for Saturday's Sky Sports Box Office event as a clear underdog but believes he can drag Joshua beyond the seventh round, the furthest the IBF world heavyweight champion has been taken to date.
With fight week underway, Breazeale (17-0-KO15) said: "I plan on putting on some extreme pressure and taking Joshua to places he's never been. We'll find out on Saturday night if he can handle it.
"I want him to feel uncomfortable at all times of the fight, every second of every round. Yes, he's got rid of a lot of his guys in the earlier rounds, he hasn't been taken into deep waters. Do I want to see him go into uncharted territory? Of course, without a doubt.
"I've been there, I know what it feels like and I've done it several times now. At the same time, I'm not going to let an opportunity pass me. If I see something I can take in the first, second round I'm definitely going to get him out of there."
Breazeale previously fanned the flames of animosity by claiming Joshua (16-0-KO16) did not deserve Olympic gold in 2012 and believes the Londoner has received equally favourable treatment as a professional.
He added: "I was sitting third row and I hands down believe that he lost that gold medal fight. But when you've got judges on your side, in your own country's Olympics, it looks better when the home native wins.
"I think he's had it easy so far, fighting in the Olympics in his backyard, having the judges there in his backyard. Even as a professional, he fought a guy in Charles Martin that really didn't show up fight night. Charles himself had an easy road and path to the title with the whole slip and fall against Vyacheslav Glazkov.
"I think Joshua's thinking of me as a stepping stone and he's going to be sorry about that. He's just wrong. He's fighting a guy at 6'7", 255 pounds that brings the pressure and a great pace from round to round. I'm one of those guys that I might take a shot, I might work some defence or I might work a strong jab.
"Either way, I'm going to make it a fight. All of my opponents have been in deep trouble against me and I don't think Joshua is going to come shy of that either.
"I'm going in as the underdog, I'm going into an arena with 17,000 opposing fans. I've been picked as the smaller guy in the ring, by the IBF as a stepping stone and I feel like my back is against the wall. I'm going to come out fighting."
Watch Anthony Joshua vs Dominic Breazeale live on Sky Sports Box Office, from The O2, on June 25. Book the event online here or via your Sky remote.
