Anthony Joshua has fired a stern warning to Tyson Fury as their world title fight edges closer.
The British-Nigerian boxer is expected to face Fury in an undisputed world title fight this year, with the pair still in talks to finalize terms for a blockbuster battle that will decide the sport’s No 1 heavyweight.
Speaking in an interview on his YouTube channel ahead of the fight, the two-time unified world heavyweight champion, said: ”I’d rather die in battle, so I can go to the heavens where the warriors lie than go to battle and try to hide and survive.”
”No matter what the tactics are, no matter how much you study, no matter how much you think you can beat me, I’m just there to win. That’s the fighter’s mentality – some people may not understand it,” he said.
He also reiterated his love for boxing despite it being an uncivilized sport.
”This is a sport of combat and war. We’re not civilized people, we’re warriors, and I love it.”
Joshua, who won his rematch against the Bulgarian, Kubrat Pulev, back in December to retain his heavyweight titles also stated that is willing to avoid making the same errors that cost him the crown in the first place.
”I wear my scars like an honour. I think I’m someone who has to get burnt to learn not to touch the stove. When I got burnt, I said I never want to make that mistake again. Anyone that stands in front of me will feel the force,” he mentioned.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has been finalizing a deal with Fury’s American promoter Bob Arum with a number of countries being considered to stage the fight.
”We’ve had big discussions with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Singapore,” he told Sportsmail.
”No decision has yet been made on the location of the fight, though the ongoing coronavirus restrictions in the UK mean the chances of the first clash between Joshua and Fury taking place on home soil are extremely slim.”