Anthony Joshua says he wants to knock Tyson Fury out in the first round as the two British heavyweights prepare for their December showdown in Cardiff.
The fight between the two-time world champions was a decade in the making. Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn pushed for the UK, and now the contest is set for Friday, December 11 at the Principality Stadium.
“A knockout, if I’m honest. Could be in the first round.”
The Push to the UK
Joshua told Sky Sports News that bringing the fight to Britain was personal. “It meant a lot to me because of the fans,” he said. “Bringing it to the UK meant a lot to me for the fans.”
He also defended his determination to stage it in the UK. “I wanted to do everything I could to make it happen and part of that was it being in the UK and we got that so we’re here,” he said. “But I wasn’t completely willing to walk away from it because it still needed to go ahead.”
Joshua’s Self-Aware Vulnerability
Bookmakers have installed Fury as an early favourite, partly because Joshua has been floored in the opening round of two of his last three fights. Joshua acknowledged the weakness but insisted he remains hard to beat.
“I have vulnerabilities,” he said. “But makes it exciting for the fans at home.”
He also dismissed talk of retirement. “There’s more to come,” he said. “The Anthony Joshua journey doesn’t end here.”
Fury’s Skills
When asked about his opponent, Joshua was complimentary. “He performs to the level he’s at as well, if I’m honest,” he said. “He’s versatile, and he’s a good little mover around in the ring.”
The First Round Prediction
The knockout prediction came directly. Asked where he felt like he’s at as a boxer, Joshua replied: “Durable, hard to beat, can show vulnerabilities.” He then pivoted to the fight itself.
“A knockout, if I’m honest with you. Could be in the first round.”
Asked whether that’s his gameplan, Joshua answered simply: “Yeah, it is.”
The Venue and the Date
The fight marks a homecoming for Joshua, who wanted the contest in the UK for the fans. Fury has been installed as an early favourite by bookmakers, with Joshua’s recent floorings in the opening round of two of his last three fights cited as a factor.
The build-up has included taunts at the first press conference in London, where the pair also shared a face-off.
The prediction is bold, and the stakes are high. The venue is packed, and the moment arrives on December 11.
Source material: “'Could be in the first round' – AJ plots 'spectacular' win over Fury,” Sky Sports.
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