Tuesday 26 May 2015 16:11, UK
Former world champion Paulie Malignaggi believes Anthony Joshua will have to deal with verbal tactics when he fights the experienced Kevin Johnson in London - live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Olympic heavyweight champion Joshua, who has knocked out all 12 of his professional opponents to date inside three rounds, is hoping to become the first man to stop the 35-year-old Johnson.
The American has gone the distance with an impressive list of names that includes Vitali Klitschko and Malignaggi is hopeful that Joshua, although just 25 years old, can show the maturity required to deal with Johnson's in-fight mind games.
Malignaggi told Sky Sports News HQ: "He can get annoying. He'll talk to you during the fight as if it's a sparring session. I think it's going to take Joshua's A-game and the best opponent yet for him.
"Kevin Johnson is the kind of guy that gives guys trouble. He gives a lot of guys trouble. He gave Vitali Klitschko trouble.
"Maybe he won't beat you. He's not going to wow you with anything but we're going to see the patience of Anthony Joshua tested and we're going to see how mature he is because a lot of his fights have ended early and we haven't got to see the maturity process and the patience involved in a 12-round fight.
What we're looking for on Saturday night is not that Joshua wins the fight but it's how he wins it. Can he show the patience?
"I think what we're looking for on Saturday night is not that Joshua wins the fight but it's how he wins it. Can he show the patience? Can he show the things he needs to show that mean he's mature enough to climb the ladder in the heavyweight division?
"He's obviously going to have to bring his A-game and his firepower but he's also going to have to be intelligent. Johnson will fight a very defensive fight. He's hard to hit clean and if you start to try too hard then he'll counter you in different ways which can make you even more impatient.
"I do expect Joshua to win it because not only is he the better fighter but I think he wants it more. Johnson is contented to give you trouble and make you look bad.
"Even if Joshua doesn't look stellar, it's important to win and get on to the next fight because if you let Johnson get in your head and get you to make those mistakes, then you could be in trouble."
Joshua's intriguing clash with Johnson is part of a colossal night of boxing at the 02 Arena - with Kell Brook, Kevin Mitchell and Lee Selby all in world title fights and plenty more support.
