They say what doesn’t break you will make you, and Anthony Joshua believes he will be stronger than ever when he fights for the first time in 2020 on Saturday night.
AJ (now 23-1 as a professional) suffered the first defeat of his paid career in June 2019, being stopped in seven rounds by 30/1 underdog Andy Ruiz at Madison Square Garden.
The doubters circled like vultures, questioning whether the former Olympic champion would regain not only his world titles, but his aura of invincibility.
It would have been easy for Joshua to crumble, but instead he doubled down, forced an immediate rematch and regained his titles with a classy boxing display in Saudi Arabia.
Now it is a stronger and fully motivated AJ who will defend his IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles against 39-year-old Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev (28-1) on Saturday night (live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN).
Joshua: I grew a thicker skin
He revealed: “The pressure that I went through last year was tough, but it made me mentally stronger. I grew a thicker skin.
“I’ve been punched by the strongest people many times but I’m still here today. That never changed me, just because I took a loss from Ruiz I don’t think that’s enough to change someone.
“Every fighter trains hard, but it’s character that separates us, and I’ve got a lot of character.”
Joshua has fought just about everybody at the elite level of the heavyweight division, and he says he will continue to take on the biggest of challenges. Avoiding nobody.
“I’ve always been tough and wanted to fight the best, that’s never been an issue. What have I got to lose? I’ve got everything to gain.
“I want to be successful in boxing and the only way to be successful is to take on big challenges. This is just another one I’m looking forward to competing with.”
Joshua’s head trainer Robert McCracken has great respect for Pulev. But he also says his man has had an excellent camp and is in prime shape to impress on Saturday night.
AJ himself meanwhile also knows plenty about the Bulgarian, and is taking the underdog very very seriously.
Pulev has AJ’s full focus
“I’ve known Kubrat Pulev for many years. I was in the training camp when his brother was sparring Warren Baister. I was in (Wladimir) Klitschko’s camp when he prepared for Pulev. I understand some of the tactics that I need to go in to beat him.
“I’m prepared for the fight to go to the final bell, I feel like I’m a 15 round fighter not a 12-round fighter. If it needs to go 12 rounds, I’ll be more than capable to carry my stamina, my boxing IQ, concentration and strength until the final bell.
“I’m going to go into the fight, I’m definitely going to get hit and he’s going to get hit, it’s going to be last man standing.
“It’ll be good for the fans, but my focus will be just on Pulev. No disrespect to the fans coming in but I’ve got a serious job I need to complete. God willing I’m confident I’ll enjoy the victory after.”