ANTHONY JOSHUA is planning to raise both middle fingers to his snipers and yell “f*** everybody” if he regains his heavyweight title next Saturday.
The British boxer has been stunned by the savage stick he has received since his shock defeat to roly-poly Andy Ruiz in June.
But the 2012 Olympic gold medallist insists he will reclaim his WBA, IBF and WBO belts in their Saudi Arabia rematch.
Joshua declared: “What do people think this is? This is fighting. One loss doesn’t take the spots off a cheetah.
“I came into boxing to fight. I’ve been champion, I’ve been Olympic champion.
“You can’t ask me about how I feel after a loss — you have to hold some regard to what we’re doing in this boxing industry.
“Now I listen to what people say about us and think they should put some respect by our name.
“We don’t play games when it comes to boxing, we’re serious. After I took the loss and had time to reflect, I thought, ‘f***ing hell, I took this s*** seriously’.
“And I want to take it even more seriously because I’m going to that next level.”
AJ raised both middle fingers — one with a lion tattoo — and added: “When I win, I will be like, ‘f*** everybody’.”
Watford icon Joshua, 30, won Olympic gold just four years after starting boxing and became a world champion inside 16 professional fights.
But even after adding two more straps to his collection with a stunning win over Wladimir Klitschko and a points lesson over Joseph Parker, he was badgered with comparisons to WBC king Deontay Wilder and undefeated ex-ruler Tyson Fury.
HEAD-HUNTING DETERMINATION
Since 19st Mexican Ruiz stunned him in Madison Square Garden on June 1, AJ has been shocked by the praise heaped on the shapeless California-based slugger.
Even before Joshua turned professional in 2013, his uncle Seyi Alabi — who helped with his commercial deals — handed him a 15-strong list of up-and-coming contenders he had to look out for.
Around that time, Ruiz was winning eight-round learning fights, low on the undercard of barely-televised shows.
It is this head-hunting determination — which has led to spectacular wins against Dillian Whyte, Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin — that Joshua feels should earn him more credit.
That is especially when held up against Wilder or Fury, who he feels have far fewer scalps on their records.
He said: “I’ve got a list my uncle gave me way back before I turned professional and Andy Ruiz was on that list.
“But even back then we wanted to fight the best. I’ve always taken on challenges — and that’s why I’ve always felt the respect is not given.
“If you look at resumes, where we were before the belts, without commercial deals or sponsors, I’m talking about the hall of fame and being a great, where I want to be respected.”
Team Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn have been hammered for taking the fight to the controversial kingdom, where public beheadings often take place.
And fight fans are fuming with British broadcaster Sky Sports for making the pay-per-view fee so high at £24.95.
But AJ — who risks his life every time he steps through the ropes — reckons selling his soul to the devil is worth the risk if it is best for the business he has now become, especially after watching some of his idols end up penniless.
The father-of-one said: “In boxing, if you earn £100, you pay a lot to the tax man, a lot to the trainer and before you know it you’re left with 30 or 40 per cent.
“So it’s not all it seems. You have to manage yourself and not get flustered about what you think is yours because 50, 60 or 70 per cent isn’t.
“When I came into boxing, I heard all the stories of Larry Holmes having to get a bus home after a title fight and Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield losing all of their money — and these guys are some of the greatest.
“Honestly, one of my main objectives in this sport was to not be owned. Not be taken advantage of.
“When you get into a certain position, people open doors for you and get you coffees. Certain people get used to that lifestyle.
‘SAME PERSON, THROUGH AND THROUGH’
“But that lifestyle isn’t meant for you, it’s just meant for the position you’re in.
“So you can’t get too used to the belts being around your waist — and that’s why the decisions I’ve made have been as a professional man, not a professional boxer.
“When I decided to become a man, I just knew in boxing I was going to conduct myself like a business.”
Since Ruiz’s left hook tagged the worrying weak spot on Joshua’s right temple, Mexico’s first heavyweight king has enjoyed the high life.
A California mansion, luxury sports cars and dazzling diamonds have all been flaunted on social media — but AJ sees weakness behind the bragging.
He said: “I’ve always said the belt should never define the man. I walked as a champion before I even had a belt.
“You see certain fighters come along, they get to championship level and you see their whole demeanour change — you see the cars, the chains.
“I was this guy way before I had a belt around my waist, so when I’m asked if there is anything about being a champion I miss, the answer is ‘no’, because I’m the same person, through and through.
“With and without the belts, it’s a championship mindset and a championship spirit.”
Sky Sports Box Office will exclusively show Ruiz v Joshua 2 on December 7. Available to buy now at www.skysports.com/joshua
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
