Joshua expects a long night against Takam

Anthony Joshua says it might take a while to crack Carlos Takam’s chin.

Unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua wasn’t initially preparing to take on Carlos Takam this weekend, but that’s who he’ll be facing as a late replacement after Kubrat Pulev pulled out of the fight with an injury. And talking about his expectations for the fight against this new opponent, Joshua tells Sky Sports that he’s not expecting to get him out of there quickly.

"He is durable. He will become more durable because he'll be in hostile territory," Joshua told Sky Sports News. "When you come into that type of environment, what have you got to lose? He'll say: 'I'll give it my all'.

"People have said: 'Josh, what round? What round?' I think we're going for a 10 to 12 round fight because this guy's head is like a block of cement."

Joshua also continued by talking about how he’s had to change his game plan and preparation for Takam, who he says is much different than Pulev. He says against Pulev he was planning on ‘boxing down the middle,’ but against Takam, who be believes is capable of exchanging in those instances, he’ll have to make a conscious effort to attack the body in order to wear him down late.