Watch Joshua vs Povetkin on September 22 live on Sky Sports Box Office
Thursday 13 September 2018 12:12, UK
Anthony Joshua feels “hunted” so has been toughening his resolve with extra, gruelling rounds of sparring.
Joshua expects the grit that he is developing in the gym to overwhelm the challenger to his world heavyweight championships, Alexander Povetkin, who he meets on September 22 live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"People aren't coming to give me rounds anymore," Joshua told Sky Sports News. "They don't say: 'what do you want me to do?'
I know my sparring partners have the opportunity to get out but [Povetkin] has to stay in, so it will be interesting to see how he survives.
"No. They're coming to take my head off because I'm the hunted.
"I've become the hunted and I'm well aware of that, and it's made me up my game. This is the reality I live in."
Scotland-based prospect Martin Bakole and Agit Kabayel, who has beaten Dereck Chisora, have been notable sparring partners in Joshua's latest camp.
"Tough sparring, we do a lot of rounds," Joshua said. "I called it on - I asked for more rounds. I'll never do that again!
"We've been sparring the Turks, Germans, Africans, English. Different countries, physicality, mentalities.
"I'm world champion right now but I'm still learning from all these guys because they're really talented fighters. I take in what they tell me.
"Remember, Povetkin isn't getting out after four or five rounds. He's staying in there with me. Everything I have learned, I will do.
"We've been trading heavy leather in these sparring sessions so, if I can do that with Povetkin and he stays in, all credit to him. Because in sparring, after four or five rounds, it gets tough and physical.
"I know my sparring partners have the opportunity to get out but he has to stay in, so it will be interesting to see how he survives."
The unbeaten IBF, WBA and WBO champion is eager for a return to his explosive best against Povetkin after being taken the distance for the first time in his 21-fight career by Joseph Parker in his last outing.
"In the Parker fight, there was an air around my name: 'he's tough, he can fight, he can bang, but he'll probably gas out after nine rounds'.
"Naturally as a young fighter coming through, you listen to that nonsense.
"Parker was a champion as well - 'he's the fastest heavyweight in the division, he's fit, Samoan power'.
"I acknowledged that, didn't go in over-confident, was clever and went the rounds to prove it to myself.
"They know I can fight - I proved it with Wladimir Klitschko and Dillian Whyte - but in the Parker fight, I proved I could box. I can sustain energy. I can go 12 rounds."
Watch Joshua vs Povetkin, at Wembley Stadium, on September 22, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book via your Sky remote or book it online here.
Even if you aren't a Sky TV subscriber you can book and watch it at skysports.com/boxofficelive.
