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Anthony Joshua: I'll show I'm more than a bodybuilder against Kevin Johnson

Anthony Joshua: Aiming to win in style against Kevin Johnson at London's O2 Arena
Image: Anthony Joshua: Aiming to win in style against Kevin Johnson at London's O2 Arena

Anthony Joshua has told Sky Sports News HQ he will prove this Saturday he is about more than just "raw power".

The Olympic champion has barely broken sweat since turning professional in 2013, blowing away each of his 12 opponents inside three rounds.

But latest foe Kevin Johnson has never been stopped - not even by the great Vitali Klitschko - and Joshua is looking forward to showcasing his full range of skills in front of a bumper crowd at London's O2 and on Sky Sports Box Office.

"I work a lot on my skills and technique," Britain's brightest heavyweight prospect said. "My whole boxing career's not just based on raw power - if that was the case I'd be in a bodybuilding gym.

 American boxer Kevin Johnson
Image: Kevin Johnson: Joshua appears unfazed by his rival's trash talking

"My coach has worked time and time again in the gym with me, telling me if I throw my jab this way I'm going to get countered.

"I just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes, because if I make mistakes with a fighter like Kevin Johnson - who I'm not underestimating - I will get punished. My job is to do the punishing, not to get punished."

Johnson has dismissed Joshua as "media hype" in the run-up to the fight and promised at Wednesday's press conference he would end his opponent's unbeaten run with a knockout.

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Anthony Joshua says all the fighting talk will be irrelevant come Saturday, when he takes on Kevin Johnson live on Sky Sports Box Office.

But Joshua appeared unfazed by those attempts to unsettle him, saying: "It took me a year to turn pro (after the Olympics) and I predicted all these things happening.

"We're a bit ahead of schedule - not with the opponents but with the trash-talking. It comes with the territory, and if I can't handle it I'm definitely not in the right game."

Watch Joshua v Johnson live and exclusive as part of Brook v Gavin, on Sky Sports Box Office on May 30, a bill which also features Mitchell and Selby. Book via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote. skysports.com/brookgavin

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