Anthony Joshua gave the impression of being focused on Tuesday at the launch press conference for his August 20 rematch with unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua was beaten convincingly on points when the pair met at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September. Yet, despite that loss being the second of his professional career, he seemed more determined than ever to prove the doubters wrong and become a three-time world champion.
"I’m focused on the target, which is sitting over there. I’m focused on the goal," Joshua stated. "God willing, I perform and will become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world. With Andy Ruiz, a lot of people could see before the fight, things weren’t 100 percent. We've got to be strong, thick-skinned. We take our loss like a grown-up. When I win, I keep it moving. If I lose, you have to stay humble in defeat, so we kept it moving. I knew I can come back again and do what I have to do. The fight with Usyk, he bust my a—s for some rounds, I had to take that defeat like a man, but I hold myself accountable.
"I’m someone who can admit when I’m wrong and hold my head high when I’m right. In the fight in September, I was wrong, and he was right. I simply have to reverse that role August 20."
Just like his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. in December 2019, Joshua has been given a second chance to avenge a disappointing loss and vows to learn from his mistakes the first time around.
"We have to give him and his team credit, and that motivates me to get better," Joshua said. "I've got a second chance. I'm the comeback king."