Two-time world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua is fully focused on the upcoming IBF heavyweight title fight against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London on September 21.

The British-Nigerian boxer, who first won the IBF belt in April 2016, will be looking to reclaim the title after 3,088 days since his initial victory over Charles Martin.

The 33-year-old downplayed the significance of winning back the red belt, emphasising his “conqueror’s mindset” and focussing on the bigger picture.

“I always say I would always compare and look back when it’s all said and done. At the moment, I’m just very chilled. Everything’s a blessing, so I just get on with it. It’s an opportunity to fight,” Joshua told Queensberry.

“A win is a win, but for me, it’s all about the journey, not the trophy. The belt doesn’t hold any special significance for me right now. This fight is an opportunity to step closer to the ultimate goal. It’s going to be tough, but I’m focused on winning and moving on to the next challenge.”

The former Olympic gold medalist acknowledged the challenge posed by Dubois, 26, who has shown significant improvement in his stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic.

“Boxing is a tough business,” Joshua concluded. “But I’m ready. I’ve been here before, and I know what it takes to win. Dubois is a good fighter, but come fight night, it’s just another challenge that I need to overcome.”

Tensions flared between the two fighters during a recent press conference, with Dubois refusing to be intimidated by Joshua’s attempts to assert his seniority.Joshua, sporting a 28-3 (25 KOs) professional record, respects Dubois’ attitude and revealed that pre-fight tension helps him prepare mentally for the bout, saying, “Always been that way. This is what I feel people don’t really get to understand what it’s like to do our job.

“It’s a very unique job. The glitz and the glamour of it are very unique, but when you strip it down to the core of it, let’s say you’re going to get two men to stand up in the ring in front of people, and we want you to fight for 47 minutes.”

A victory for Joshua could potentially set up a clash with the winner of the upcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, possibly for the undisputed heavyweight title.

The fight against Dubois, 21-2 (20 KOs), marks another crucial step in Joshua’s quest to regain his status as the top heavyweight in the world.

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