Klitschko mind games won't work: Joshua

Anthony Joshua says Wladimir Klitschko's mind games will be worth nothing when they step into the ring at Wembley.

Anthony Joshua has told Wladimir Klitschko his mind games are transparent, although the Briton is wary of facing a wounded animal at Wembley.

Animosity between the two heavyweights has so far been absent ahead of Saturday's bout in the capital when the undefeated Joshua will meet the 41-year-old Klitschko 17 months on from the Ukrainian's loss to Tyson Fury.

Neither man is renowned for the insults or press-conference confrontations that can preface other fights, and Klitschko's attempts to get inside Joshua's head have instead centred on his muscular physique as well as his opponent's declaration he wants to be a billionaire.

Joshua has dismissed such psychological tactics as frivolous by insisting that Klitschko is merely trying to transfer criticism he has received on to his younger foe.

"There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a billionaire - if you have kids you would advise them to set goals high, there's nothing wrong with aiming high," Joshua argued.

"Wladimir Klitschko was accused of carrying out fights to the 12th round to secure commercial revenue in Germany.

"He has been accused of trying to accumulate financial gain as well. Maybe he is using that as a way to attack me because he has been in that situation before.

"He used to be accused of being too muscular because he used to gas after five or six rounds coming through.

"Everything he has gone through he seems to be throwing at the young champion coming through.

"I study boxing, I see where he is coming from. I can see his angles. It is important to unsettle a fighter.

"Boxing isn't just about the Mike Tysons of the world, there are so many ways of expressing yourself. It is a martial art."


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Source: AAP



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