Anthony Joshua Says Talk Means Nothing Until The Bell Rings

Anthony Joshua isn’t putting much stock in the confidence Kristian Prenga and his team have shown before Saturday’s heavyweight fight in Jeddah. While Prenga has spoken boldly about his chances, Joshua believes none of it will matter once the opening bell rings.

“You see, there’s a few things with fighting. I’m sitting here talking to you now, and this is surface level. I’m going to talk a lot of [stuff]. I could tell you everything that you want to hear. But you see, when you get home, deep down in your heart, you know what it is. There is a big difference on what I speak to you about now and what I truly feel in my heart. And secondly, when you take that walk to the ring, it don’t matter what you said because all the truth will come out when fists start flying. So, respectfully to what he or what I say, all that matters is when that first bell rings that you’ve done the training, not what you’ve been saying,” Joshua told Ring Magazine.

Joshua said the point applies to every fighter, including himself.

“We’ll see if everything that people say, not just me, every fighter that comes through here, plus myself, live up to what we talk about,” said Joshua. “It’s very difficult to live up to what you say about yourself. Saying it and doing it are two different things.”

Prenga’s manager generated headlines at the launch press conference with predictions, and Joshua admitted he watched the exchange. Instead of dismissing the challenger, he said both men face the same pressure once they step through the ropes.

“They’re already in a hole. So am I,” said Joshua. “We’re both in a big hole. We just see who’s managed to climb out of it. We’re both in a deep, deep hole.”

Joshua has spent much of fight week answering questions about a possible clash with Tyson Fury, but his message has remained unchanged. Interviews and press conferences end once the fighters enter the ring, and he believes Saturday night is where every prediction, promise and opinion will finally be tested.