Anthony Joshua admits he is stalked by a fear of losing.
He has blazed his way to a perfect 21-0 record ahead of Saturday night’s world heavyweight title clash against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.
But even though Joshua has not lost since the final of the 2011 World Amateur Championships, that fear is constantly at the back of his mind.
“Yeah, always,” said the WBA Super, IBF and WBO king. “That fear of losing is always there.
“When I lost in the final of the worlds, it was the first time I dropped a tear because it meant that much. That what’s weird. As an amateur you lose and you build again. As a pro, you lose and you’re s**t.
“The fear of losing is a lot more, there’s no room for mistakes. It’s crazy in this sport. It’s focused solely on the winner, it’s all about winning. The fear of losing is huge because you can lose everything. Scary sport.”
Joshua, 28, is not arrogant enough to think he will never lose, but the 2012 Olympic champ insists his career will not be defined by any defeats.
“If Sugar Ray Robinson lost, what makes someone else think they’re going to go through boxing and not lose?” he said.
“Sugar Ray Robinson, the best fighter of all time can lose. And Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe.
“So who am I to go undefeated? But I’m content with it because I know those nights of negativity don’t define me.
“I’ve lost before as an amateur and that didn’t deter me from getting where I am today.”
Joshua’s candid admission is not a sign of weakness and instead shows he is fully switched on to the threat posed by Povetkin.
He needs to use his superior reach to stop the 39-year-old Russian former WBA champ closing the distance and unleashing his ferocious left hooks.
Joshua sees parallels with his last fight at Wembley against Wladimir Klitschko (left) and is confident tonight will have the same outcome.
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“Then Klitschko was at the end of his career,” he said. “He wanted his hands on the championship belts and said he was obsessed.
“Povetkin is the same. Back at Wembley, at the end of his career, same age, wants his hands on the belts so I have to be prepared to go through hell and back.
“Without that Klitschko fight, I wasn’t as prepared as I am now. My well is deep, my heart can definitely go through hell and back.”
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