I need to break his will and heart, says Joshua ahead of Takam fight

Anthony Joshua says he would have to break the “will” of Takam Carlos during their heavyweight bout.

Joshua said Takam will be a tough customer, but the desire to win the fight will help him triumph.

“I’m going to stand in front of [Takam] and chop his tree down, because that’s what he does,” Joshua told Sky Sports.

“A fighter like him wants to get on the inside, and work you around the body.

“I can’t keep punching straight if a fighter is on my chest, so I need to work on my inside game and stand in a phone box.

“Those fights come down to will, heart and whoever wants it more.

“He disheartens you. Imagine throwing your best shots and they are still in front of you. It’s disheartening.

“To do that for 12 rounds takes a lot of energy so sometimes I’ll have to stand in front of him, trade with him, and go to war. I need to break his will, to break his heart.

“Takam keeps on coming, keeps on coming. He works the body well, and loves a left hook.

“I already thought he was a game, well-rounded fighter so what is going to happen when he comes here and has everything to take home with him? I’ll see an improved Takam.

“With Pulev it wasn’t about whipping him around the body, it was about staying off the line and boxing down the middle.

“Carlos is different – he can trade down the middle. My speed will beat his combinations.

“A good way to beat Carlos is to take his body out, that’s what Povetkin did to him.”

Takam Carlos replaced Kubrat Pulev as Joshua’s opponent after the Bulgarian got injured.

The fight will take place on Saturday at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Wales.