Joshua: "No real strategy except for winning" against Usyk
Ahead of Saturday's heavyweight fight in London, Anthony Joshua said his only game plan is to "hurt or beat" Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua says his only game plan for this weekend's fight with Oleksandr Usyk is to win.
Joshua returns to action against former undisputed world cruiserweight champion Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Usyk, who has 13 knockouts from his 18 professional victories, has only previously fought twice against a heavyweight.
While the Ukrainian has insisted the pressure is all on Joshua, the reigning IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion says he has no particular strategy heading into the bout.
"Whether it's the right hand, the uppercut or the jab... As long as it leads to a win"
"I'm in there with the ultimate aim of winning. My goal is to either hurt you or beat you until I get the win," Joshua told Sky Sports.
"Whether it's the right hand, the uppercut or the jab... As long as it leads to a win. I could box on the front foot or the back foot. There is no real strategy except for winning."
Usyk beat Derek Chisora on points in London last year, while the 34-year-old has also previously defeated Tony Bellew on English soil.
"I'm physically conditioned and mentally conditioned. I should be fine. It's a big occasion, big pressure," continued Joshua, who had been set to face Tyson Fury before talks broke down due to the latter having to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout.
"Bellew was at a different stage of his career when he took the fight. I'm at a different stage. So, what it means to me is different to what it meant to Bellew.
"Bellew put up a really good fight, and he came up short, which can happen in boxing. I will do everything to reverse what happened to Bellew and make it into my favour."
If Joshua and Fury both win their respective fights, then a heavyweight title bout could be on the cards yet again.
"I feel like I've got nothing else if I don't get this win," said Joshua. "It's not the end of the road but it's the start of a new chapter."
Usyk "not going to do nerves at all"
Usyk, meanwhile, insisted he will feel no anxiety in the hours leading up to the fight.
"The lack of nerves will help me," he told the Guardian. "I am not going to be nervous. Why would I be? It would not change anything. I will not get stronger, only weaker.
"I will be calm and confident and probably read a book before or watch a film and speak to my loved ones or my son. I am not going to do nerves at all."