The IBF and WBA Super heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua has vowed to be a part of another ‘war’ as he made the final preparations for his title defence against Carlos Takam.
Joshua took to the ring on Wednesday for the final open workout session at the St David’s Hall in Cardiff and was greeted with ear-piercing cheers by a packed-out crowd.
Speaking after his workout he told Sky Sports: ‘Nothing will change (from the Wladimir Klitschko fight).
‘I think that’s why everyone is here again, we are going to have another war and wear our hearts on our sleeves on Saturday.
‘When people come to watch me they know they are going to see a bit of blood, a knockout and respect after and that’s what people want and that’s what we will give.’
The heavyweight champion looked sharp, ready and in phenomenal condition as he trained during the open workout session.
He started off with some light shadow boxing and skipping before hitting the pads with his trainer Rob McCracken.
His opponent, Takam, will be an unknown entity to almost all of the 75,000 fans expected to turn out on Saturday night at the Principality Stadium.
Not too much can be taken from open workouts but it did give fans their first glimpse of the 39-year-old challenger.
And what was clear more than anything was the Cameroon-born heavyweight, who stepped in as a late replacement for the injured Kubrat Pulev, is not fearing the knockout specialist Joshua.
Takam, who took WBO champion Joseph Parker the full distance last year, is clearly confident of exploiting any chinks in Joshua’s armour as he looked cool, calm and collected during the workout.
He took this opportunity to prove his fitness in front of the onlooking crowd, as he hit the pads with real snap for his whole 30 minute slot.
Joshua himself was in a bullish mood but paid credit to his opponent for taking the fight on just 12 days’ notice and is hoping an emphatic win on the weekend will put him in line for some huge fights next year.
‘Massive credit to Carlos [Takam]’, he said.
‘He trains and keeps himself fit all year round, but I was never going to just give up my IBF title, I’ve trained too hard. Now he has the chance to be world champion so it’s a good opportunity for him, but the best man will walk out as the winner.
‘The fans know what they want to see on Saturday and I know, too. I have to deliver, it’s my duty, we do that and then hopefully we can look forward to a promising 2018.’
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
