ANTHONY JOSHUA is ready to launch a blistering attack on his rivals – starting with Dillian Whyte.
The 33-year-old Watford hulk is in Dallas, Texas training with new coach Derrick James, as he prepares for an August 12 O2 bout.
Two-time rival Whyte, 35, has signed and returned the contract for the trilogy – with the score poised at 1-1 after brilliant slugfests in the amateurs and pros.
And the Brixton brawler will not be able to put a foot wrong after a clip showed AJ’s brutal new training regime ripped off the skin on half of his foot.
Growling expletives from his desert base, the London 2012 legend said: “I want to become three-time heavyweight champion of the world. I want to test myself.
“I have been through a lot and I want to see what I have left to give.
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“I am trying to find an environment that pushes me on to higher highs.
“Now let’s go. Who the f*** is next? I am ready to roll.”
Explaining the gruesome foot injury – that will heal before the latest Whyte war – he said: “You are on the ball of your foot a lot, moving around in the gym a lot.
“And the gym is close to 40 degrees and my body is not used to the heat so the skin just peeled off.”
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After back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua had to leave his family behind – including seven-year-old son JJ, who he jokes can complain about the absence in later life in his Ferrari.
Decade-long mentor Rob McCracken lost his post, Robert Garcia lasted just one bout and a handful of assistant coaches came and went.
Now Joshua is under the instruction of the ruthless and respected American – who made superstars and champions out of Errol Spence and Jermell Charlo – and things are heating up after the April win over Jermaine Franklin kickstarted their partnership.
He said: “Going away from home is not what anyone wants but it has got to be done, this is what it takes. I am here for a purpose, that’s why I am in Dallas.
“It’s up early in the morning, ice bath, train, come back, eat and sleep, repeat.
“It’s the same as it is in London – to a degree – but just minus the one per cent distractions. And in sport – where it is based on margins – one per cent makes a big, big difference.
“This is the first time, in a long time, that I have been settled.
“In the last 2-3 years I have moved coaches and it has been difficult because every coach has their own philosophy. Now I am with Derrick James for my second camp.
“In the first one I did nine weeks here, it wasn’t a lot of time so we had to get straight down to business. Now it’s my second camp and I feel like I can express myself more now.
“In the first he was saying ‘I don’t want you to do this, I don’t want you to do that, this is exactly what I want you to do’.
“Our goal was just to win that fight and I did that and now we are building once again.”
Whyte is training with his American cornerman Buddy McGirt in Florida, so both giants will have to fly back to London for their potentially explosive press conference.
The Body Snatcher is not happy the bout – which promoter Eddie Hearn always promised would be a big-money stadium blockbuster – is happening at their local arena in the middle of the school holidays.
But he has accepted the offer – believed to be around £3million – because he believes he has the power in his brain and fists to beat Joshua in and outside of the ring.
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In the original deal there was a rematch clause inserted – if AJ were to lose – but Whyte successfully got that ripped up as he wants to push on with his career if he can avenge his 2015 loss.
Joshua has an overdue mega-money showdown with Deontay Wilder booked for Saudi Arabia in December so has to come through his oldest foe if he is to secure that.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
