Fight Night: Anthony Joshua hopes to cap first year as a pro by beating Denis Bakhtov
Friday 10 October 2014 19:31, UK
Anthony Joshua reckons winning the WBC international heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night will be the perfect way to celebrate his first year in professional boxing.
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Joshua faces experienced Russian Denis Bakhtov for the vacant crown at the venue of his pro debut, which came on October 5 last year, when he dismantled Emanuele Leo inside a round.
He has had seven fights since and has only been taken to the third round once - in his last outing against Konstantin Airich in Manchester last month. The German-based Kazakh providing game resistance until just past the halfway mark of the third.
Joshua weighed in at 16st 12lbs 9oz, while Bakhtov was slighly lighter - and shorter - at 16st 4lbs, in East London on Friday afternoon.
The Olympic gold medallist has been touted as a future world champion but the 24-year-old says it is just business as usual after completing his first year in the pro ranks.
“Not much has changed,” he said. “I’ve got a lot more fans now that’s for sure as I have boxed around the country, but I have been in the gym so I haven’t been able to see the impact, it’s a basic lifestyle really.
“Because I am boxing so much, the turnaround is short. Bernard Hopkins said what has kept him in the game for so long is avoiding the celebrity lifestyle - that’s what I need to do. I haven’t had time to have a holiday, I would like to do that, eat some nice food in some tiny restaurants but I haven’t been able to.
“I am aware of the expectations around me and the potential that the great guys achieved. I’m at the start of my career like they all were and I know that hard work is the key. If I keep my head down and work hard I can reach the top.
I am aware of the expectations around me and the potential that the great guys achieved. I’m at the start of my career like they all were and I know that hard work is the key. If I keep my head down and work hard I can reach the top.
“I have improved, I am fitter and I understand more. Right now I am that Airich level really – I learn how to deal with the event but training is 50 times harder than the fight.
“I keep the blinkers on. It’s what I signed up for. I know that if things go well next week then there will be more interested. I understand the pressure that comes with it but when you are winning there’s no stopping you, my motto is to stay hungry and it’s that simple.
“As an amateur I worked with sports psychologists and I have read books on it. Everyone has their level and I haven’t found it as a pro. Even if I just achieve British level, as long as I give it 110 per cent then I am happy with that. I haven’t brought into it yet as I haven’t achieved it yet. I have the contender mentality and I am very self-critical.
“Bakhtov is a lot busier than my last opponent. I look at him the same as I looked at Matt Legg, one of my previous opponents, just with a lot more experience.
"Legg came out with a lot of hooks and gave it a go. Bakhtov can take punches for fun, and he’ll be looking to get to me. Hopefully, he’ll be the one eating a lot of shots. I have to get the win really. Simple as that.”
Joshua’s fight against Bakhtov is part of a top-class line-up in London as Lee Selby faces unbeaten Australian Joel Brunker in a final eliminator for the IBF world featherweight title and John Ryder steps into the international middleweight scene by taking on Theophilus Tetteh for the vacant WBO inter-continental belt.
Welshman Selby has enjoyed a purple patch over the last 18 months and if he can overcome the unbeaten Brunker, it will complete a hard journey from small hall to world stage.
“I've done it the hard way, gone from fighting in small hall shows to selling out the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff,” said Selby. “I've won all the belts I have had the chance to fight for, and now it's time to take that next massive step.
“I take each fight as it comes and prepare myself meticulously for them. Every opponent is a high risk one at this stage, they are coming to win and get World title shots themselves so I have to be at my best."
Watch Anthony Joshua fight Denis Bakhtov for the WBC international belt, live from 8.30pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1 HD.
