Ibrahim Oladamola
That is the word Anthony Joshua used to describe how he feels at this point of his career.
As he sits-down in Battersea, a few weeks after a victorious return to the ring with a unanimous decision win against Jermaine Franklin, this Anthony Joshua is reflective, unburdened and as he said, chilled.
After his win against Franklin, there were questions over Joshua’s tactics and lack of aggression to go for the knock-out, but those days may be gone as this is a different Joshua. A Joshua who simply just wants to win.
“When you look at someone’s make-up, you have to look at what their attributes are,” Anthony Joshua said.
“I’m quite tall, I’ve got a long range but I’m not going to be a bruiser.
“I’ve always tried to develop my boxing IQ but over 12 rounds there are times where you have to fight and I want to become a box fighter.
“It’s why that fight with Jermaine Franklin – I realised I was in with someone who’s a counter-puncher, you throw two, they try to hit you with three – so I changed my game plan, I stuck behind my jab, used my attributes and got the win.
“I can build on that because there will be a day where just being a fighter may not work against a certain opponent.
“The man who has a plan A, B and C in his locker because he can use his jab, he can move around, he knows how to defend – I think he’ll have more of a chance to be victorious on a tough night.
“I’m glad I got those rounds in the bank and I can move forward on my quest to become a full and well-rounded fighter.”
