Monday 30 October 2017 13:04, UK
Anthony Joshua has revealed he had dressing room advice from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on how to talk the "perfect" game.
Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic, 36, was among Joshua's camp ahead of the boxer's successful title defence of his WBA 'super' and IBF heavyweight belts against Carlos Takam on Saturday night.
Ibrahimovic had some words of wisdom for Joshua ahead of the bout, telling the world champion to ditch his modesty.
"Zlatan loves his boxing and his mindset is phenomenal but he picked me up on something I said after my fight with Wladimir Klitschko earlier in the year," Joshua said.
"He pointed out that I'd said 'I'm not perfect, but I'm trying'. Then he said 'No, no no. What you must is say is 'I am perfect and I'm not trying!'"
Ibrahimovic, who recently told Sky Sports he is back at Manchester United to win the Premier League title after his knee injury, joked Joshua is still some way off the striker's own heavyweight status.
"He is not as good at boxing as I am at football... but he's getting there," said Ibrahimovic.
"He's a knockout artist and his personality is good because he is perfect and he is not trying.
"There are positive vibes all around him, he has good energy and expresses himself very well.
"That's why everyone loves him. It's why he's the people champion."
