Anthony Joshua says becoming undisputed heavyweight champion of the world would be "sensational" as he closes in on a massive showdown with Tyson Fury next summer.
Joshua (23-1), defends his IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Kubrat Pulev at London’s SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday night (live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN).
He knows only too well that a victory over the Bulgarian would leave him on the brink not only of a meeting with Fury in 2021, but potentially becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis back in 1999.
“It would be sensational. I'm one belt away (namely Fury’s WBC title),” he told ‘Off The Cuff’ on DAZN.
Becoming undisputed is tough - AJ
“It's been hard work holding onto these four. That's why I've got to take Pulev seriously. It's weird how boxing works. I've got to go and fight for all these belts one by one, and then Pulev gets to come and fight me for all of them in one night.
“He's IBF mandatory, but I've got to put up my WBO, my IBO and my WBA. I can't just put my IBF belt up. So I go and do all the hard work, fighting everyone, collecting every belt. And then he just gets a shot at all of them in one night.
“It's tough (becoming undisputed champion) but I would love to do it. I've got one more belt to collect and whoever has it, I'm keen to fight that person. I was keen to fight the former champion (Deontay Wilder) last year and I'm keen to fight the current champion (Fury) this year and the year after.”
Joshua has respect for Pulev
While there are clearly bigger challenges ahead, Joshua is for now putting all his energy into preparing for Pulev. A fighter he has great respect for.
“He does a lot of the basics well. Skilful fighter, great lead hand, follows up with the back hand to head or body. Throws it straight, throws it wide.
“He's been in with great fighters - Hughie Fury, Chisora, (Wladimir) Klitschko, Bogdan (Dinu), been in there with Rydell Booker, the list goes on. He's been in with some great people, I must say.”
Another belt Fury currently owns is the widely-respected one awarded by boxing bible The Ring magazine. AJ though says it’s not something he desperately needs.
"I don't acknowledge The Ring magazine. I don't acknowledge none of these belts. I'm my own man. With or without the belts, I'm a champion anyway, so I don't need The Ring magazine to tell me I'm number one for me to believe it.
"I know who I am, I knew who I was before The Ring magazine entered my life. So, whatever they say, I respect. And they have to respect what I say, because I'm number one.”
When is Joshua v Pulev?
The fight takes place on Saturday December 12, with ring walks expected some time after 2200 GMT
Where is the fight taking place?
London's SSE Arena in front of a crowd of 1,000 spectators
What are the odds?
Anthony Joshua ranges from a 1/9 favourite to as short as 1/14, with Pulev a best of 7/1
How do I watch it on TV?
The fight and its undercard is being televised live on Sky Sports Box Office and Sky Sports Box Office HD, channels 491 and 492 for Sky subscribers.
The event is priced at £24.95 for Sky's UK customers and €27.95 for those from the Republic of Ireland, up until midnight on Friday December 11.
Thereafter £24.95 / €27.95 (ROI) across all "self-service" bookings (remote control / online) and £29.95 / €32.95 (ROI) if booked via the phone (either IVR or agent), with an additional £2 booking fee if via an agent still applies.
The event price will revert back to £24.95 / €27.95 (ROI) from midnight on Saturday December 12.
Two repeat showings (full duration) will be shown at 9am and 4pm on Sunday December 13.
Sky users can sign up here. If you do not have Sky, click here.
Tale of the tape
Anthony Joshua
- Age: 31
- Fights: 24
- Won: 23
- By KO: 21
- Lost: 1
- Drawn: 0
- Rounds: 103
- Height: 6'6"
- Weight: TBC
- Reach: 82"
- Stance: Orthodox
- Nickname: AJ
- Nationality: British
Kubrat Pulev
- Age: 39
- Fights: 29
- Won: 28
- By KO: 14
- Lost: 1
- Drawn: 0
- Rounds: 203
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: TBC
- Reach: 79.5"
- Stance: Orthodox
- Nickname: The Cobra
- Nationality: Bulgarian
What's on the undercard?
- Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev (WBA 'Super', IBF and WBO heavyweight titles)
- Lawrence Okolie vs Nikodem Jezewski (12 rounds at cruiserweight)
- Hughie Fury vs Mariusz Wach (10 rounds at heavyweight)
- Martin Bakole vs Sergey Kuzmin (WBC international heavyweight title)
- Florian Marku vs Alex Fearon (8 rounds at welterweight)
- Kieron Conway vs Macaulay McGowan (10 rounds at super-welterweight)
- Qais Ashfaq vs Ashley Lane (8 rounds at super-bantamweight)