Anthony Joshua is not the type of fighter who needs to be left alone to get in the zone prior to his fights.
Literally seconds before he took to the ring in front of 78,000 spectators at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium at the weekend, Joshua was a vision of composure as he joked with fellow Brit Tony Bellew and Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Bellew’s presence backstage was somewhat understandable, considering he is an active heavyweight and was on Sky Sports Box Office’s broadcast team, but eyebrows were raised over why Ibrahimovic was there.
Well, it turns out, it was for more than a photo opp as the United player actually offered ‘AJ’ some words of advice prior to his most recent title defence.
“Zlatan loves his boxing and his mindset is phenomenal but he picked me up on something I said after my fight with Wladimir Klitschko earlier in the year,” Joshua told Sky Sports after stopping opponent Carlos Takam in the tenth round.
When lions meet 🦁🦁 #AJBXNG pic.twitter.com/NZ0fsBAqVn
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) October 28, 2017
“He pointed out that I’d said ‘I’m not perfect, but I’m trying’. Then he said ‘No, no no. What you must is say is ‘I am perfect and I’m not trying!'”
Ibrahimovic is a massive fight fan and is a regular practitioner of Taekwondo. He also grew up in the same Swedish neighbourhood as UFC light heavyweight star Ilir Latifi.
And while Ibrahimovic is a huge supporter of what Joshua is doing in the boxing ring, the former Sweden international has claimed that ‘AJ’ has some way to go if he is to match what Ibrahimovic is capable of doing on the pitch.
“He is not as good at boxing as I am at football… but he’s getting there,” Ibrahimovic said of Joshua.
“He’s a knockout artist and his personality is good because he is perfect and he is not trying.
“There are positive vibes all around him, he has good energy and expresses himself very well.
“That’s why everyone loves him. It’s why he’s the people champion.”
