Anthony joshua reveals one regret ahead of alexander povetkin fight

Joshua burst onto the boxing scene in 2012 when he claimed a gold medal at the London Olympics. He had been fighting as an amateur for five years and turned pro one year later with a record

of 40-3-0. After 30 months as a professional, knocking out each of his 15 opponents, ‘AJ’ claimed his first world title in a two-round demolition of Charles Martin. Joshua’s stoppage streak

ran until this March, when he boxed smartly against undefeated WBO champion Joshua Parker to claim a points victory. The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion defends his belts against

Alexander Povetkin at Wembley this Saturday. Ahead of that fight, the 28-year-old conceded that he does have regrets about his early career choices. “I should have gone to the 2016 Olympics

and then I should’ve just turned pro now, or be two years into my pro career,” Joshua told Sky Sports Boxing. “I would’ve been a lot more seasoned - fast forward and imagine six years from

then as a pro, I would’ve been a lot more seasoned. “But I’m starting to get my season now in the gym. I’m learning how to slip shots, spin off." The Watford fighter turned down £50,000

to turn pro in 2010, but instead penned his signature with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport. Hearn plotted a steady rise in Joshua’s embryonic pro career, which helped Joshua in his gradual

development of the sweet science. “I didn’t have a long amateur career, but I did have heart and determination which got me through,” Joshua added. “I was always looking at it fight by

fight, not knowing where I would end up, but knowing that I always had determination and that discipline. “But early on, all these KOs and wins have just come on auto-pilot mode. They were

just strength and determination.”