Anthony Joshua has given an honest assessment of his skills in the ring by admitting he isn't "a fighter" at heart.
Joshua, 33, looked cagey in his comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin earlier this month as the former two-time heavyweight champion got the nod on points after a lacklustre 12 rounds. The Brit was known for being one of the most feared punchers in the heavyweight division during his meteoric rise, but has looked a shell of his former self in recent performances.
'AJ' recently ruled out a summer return as the Brit wants more time to sharpen his skills under new coach Derrick James, but has now admitted he would be open to changing his plans. Joshua admitted to being an "over-thinker" in the ring but said he wants to become a new type of boxer, something he hopes world-renowned coach James can help him achieve.
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"If you look at my character, I'm not the most aggressive outwardly type of person," Joshua told Sky Sports. "I'm not a fighter, I'm more of a boxer. There's a thought process and a method behind the madness. I've always tried to develop my boxing IQ, but over 12 rounds there are times when you have to fight. I wanna become a box-fighter, so I need to improve.
"I'm a thinker, maybe even an over-thinker. The only way we are going to put everything my coach teaches me to the test is through fighting. I don't want to lie to the fans and say, 'I'm fighting this date' when there are still conversations in the background still happening. If my coach decides to change his mind, I feel I am subject and able to change my mind. So I'm able to fight in July or August if I want."
Joshua could fight Deontay Wilder at the end of the year in a historic Saudi Arabia event that would see Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet in the co-headliner. Part of Joshua's decision to move away from his knockout-seeking style is because the Brit thinks being a fighter may not work against a more well-versed opponent.
"The fight I was in with Jermaine Franklin, I realised I was in there with a counter-puncher. You throw two and they try and hit you with three. I changed my gameplan, stuck behind my jab and got the win. I can build on that because there's going to be a day where just being a fighter may not work against a certain opponent," he added.
