We can understand his irritation.
Anthony Joshua is under a lot of pressure and, at this stage of fight camp, will just be eager to getting into the ring.
70,000 plus tickets have already been sold to watch Joshua’s upcoming bout, which was initially scheduled to come against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, before the fight was jeopardised by an injury to the Bulgarian fighter.
With just 12 days remaining before fight night in Cardiff, Joshua’s camp scrambled for a replacement and arrived at Carlos Takam, a Cameroonian veteran of 39 professional fights.
Takam represents an entirely different kind of challenge for ‘AJ’ than the one which was posed by Pulev and a last-minute switch of strategy is now required of the undefeated Brit.
And, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua was none too pleased to learn of the update.
“He had the disappointment of the Wladimir Klitschko rematch [which didn’t come to fruition], then Pulev falling through… he was a bit pissed off to be honest with you,” Hearn told iFL TV.
“But he knows Takam, he quite rates him, and knows he’s tough so he knows it’s a real fight.”
Hearn initially found out about the Pulev injury from Joshua’s trainer Robert McCracken, who had seen the rumour doing the rounds online.
The Matchroom boss then contacted Pulev’s promoter Kalle Sauerland and had the news confirmed.
“I think you get more rounds out of Takam. It’s a different fight to Pulev,” Hearn added.
“Pulev is taller, more awkward. And Takam is shorter, comes forward, swings them in, with a great chin, and is very durable. I’m pleased to get it done.”
