Donald McRae's report
“Not a throwback fight, just another fight,” Joshua says. “I respect Otto. Throughout the whole buildup, I was telling everyone I need to focus on the man in front of me because I respect what he’s bringing to the table. Not so much a throwback fight, just another day in the office.”
He’s then asked to expound on his approach to the fight.
“Well, victory by any means,” Joshua says. “So when I pray, one of the things I know is that every cell, my spirit, my mind is leading towards victory. And like with Otto, we just want to do whatever it takes to be victorious, because in this game, it’s a treacherous business. It’s like snakes and ladders. One win gets you up the ladder and a [loss] takes you all the way back down. So all I want to do is just be victorious for as long as I can.”
Did his familiarity with Wallin from their previous sparring work offer him an advantage?
“I was looking on the roster of heavyweights that was on this card,” Joshua says. “I fought Otto, sparred with him, great fighter. I fought Joseph Parker, was going to fight (Jarrell) Miller, sparred with (Daniel) Dubois, sparred with Agit (Kabayel). I’ve been around the block, man. Hard work, kids. Staying focused, dedicated to your craft will pay dividends in the long run. I think I’ve worked hard in the short space of time I’ve been boxing, but all that history with Otto paid off today.”
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