'I feel tired' - Anthony Joshua Talks About His Last Minute Opponent Changing Experience before Joshua vs Helenius Showdown
Two-time heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, recently opened up about the physical toll of his training camp as he gears up for Joshua vs Helenius showdown this weekend. Previously, Dillian Whyte, who was supposed to fight Joshua, couldn't pass a VADA test. This left Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn in a rush to find another heavyweight contender to keep the event alive. Helenius, who interestingly was practicing his boxing in a castle in Finland when Whyte's test results came out, eagerly filled the vacancy. Helenius hopes to mirror Andy Ruiz Jr's shocking win over Joshua in 2019, where Ruiz was a last-minute substitute. Discussing his current state, Joshua shared with Antoine Speaks about feeling the wear and tear of his preparation for the 29th bout of his career. He stated that it feels like I'm worn out and feel every bit of the rigorous training, but that just means I'm ready to give it my all in the ring. He further emphasized the importance of his victory by saying that the end goal is to have my hand lifted in triumph. We're constantly chasing goals and as a piece of advice, budding athletes should always keep their eyes on the present challenge. He also talked about his last minute opponent changing experience, I've had experience with last-minute changes in opponents. This is my third time facing such a situation. But my primary focus remains – securing a win.
“I feel tired, battered and bruised and I feel that I train hard which means I can fight hard.” “My hand being raised is the most important thing, rather than looking at anything else. There’s always a carrot that’s being dangled in front of us, but it’s been like that forever and I think that young athletes should always focus on what they have in front of them. Like myself, I’m a young athlete and a veteran as well now, I’ve been around late replacements, this is the third time this has happened, I just need to get my hand raised, get in there and do the job.”The much-anticipated Joshua vs Helenius bout is scheduled to be held at the O2 Arena this Saturday, August 12. The event will also host three additional heavyweight battles.
