Joshua vs Breazeale: AJ reveals keys to strict training regime
Wednesday 22 June 2016 14:46, UK
Anthony Joshua defends his world heavyweight crown against Dominic Breazeale on Saturday, so we found out how he prepares in training...
They say you've attracted lots of women to the sport. How do you feel about that?
It's rather flattering! It's nice, isn't it? Different audiences, different attention. In my day-to-day routine, I'm tucked away doing my thing and don't really get that kind of attention. It's nice we've got a different audience watching.
How do you divide up your training regime?
The first thing is you need to get your cardio in. You need to build natural stamina throughout camp so you have to do your road work, your bike work and your swimming.
You also need to do your sparring. You need to do 14 rounds - bag work, shadow boxing and then sparring with good, physical sparring partners who are there to work and push you.
What mentality would you recommend to training?
Always aim for the results but make sure you enjoy it.
Forget all this "only eat 5g of rice, 2g of vegetables" - that's a bit too extreme. The aim of it is to have fun and get results. Don't deprive yourself of stuff that puts you in a bad mood. Then you won't even like training because you're not enjoying what you're doing. I'd say just have fun with it.
What about any specific or new training techniques or circuits you favour?
A really tough one, if you want to have a quick burnout, is to get on the treadmill and put it up to 15. Then you put it on for three minutes and just run as hard as you can. 15 is a good level for people who are fit and want to get fit. You can obviously go above if you want to get even fitter.
You do three minutes, then you have a minute's rest and then hop back on. You continuously do that maybe eight times and that will really get to the lungs and give you a good workout.
What about when you're not in camp?
I know that when I'm training, the life I want is good sleep, waking up early feeling fresh and eating good.
I want all of that without the training. When I'm training, that's what it brings me but when I'm not then I have no reason to be sleeping early or up early so you tend to mess up your routine. That's why I prefer being in the gym because it keeps me in a disciplined routine.
So you don't want a break at all?
You need to refresh your system and get away from everything. Just take some time off for yourself, just please yourself and look after No 1 and then I can get back to doing what I enjoy doing.
A break is always important for anyone.
Watch Anthony Joshua vs Dominic Breazeale live on Sky Sports Box Office from The O2, June 25. Book the event via your Sky remote or online here.
