Anthony Joshua warns Kubrat Pulev of his 'new strengths' ahead of heavyweight clash

Anthony Joshua is ready to retain his heavyweight belts against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN

Two time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has warned his opponent Kubrat Pulev that he has 'perfected his boxing craft' and is ready to execute a statement performance on Saturday night to show he is ready to become undisputed champion against Tyson Fury in a mega-fight.

'AJ' has not fought for over a year, and makes his return to the ring after defeating Andy Ruiz Jr in a rematch in Saudi Arabia back in December.

Fighting a Bulgarian opponent who has lost just once to Wladimir Klitschko, the British fighter has confirmed that he has worked hard in training camp on perfecting his 'new strengths' but concedes the fight will be a tough test for which he is fully focussed on defending his unified heavyweight world titles.

He told Sky Sports: "Sometimes when things are going well you keep working on your strengths, after my loss in New York? what people call weaknesses, I call strengths that I haven't identified yet.

"I saw the strengths I hadn't identified - what [other people] call weaknesses. I enhanced them, improved them. Now there aren't any chinks in my armour. I've worked a lot on honing my craft.

"This will be a tough fight but I need to retain my belts. I have a warrior mindset.

"In my mind, nothing else is important apart from Pulev. That is my focus."

However, Pulev is keen to cause a huge upset on Saturday night and believes he can follow in the footsteps of Alexander Povetkin to send a message to the heavyweight division and secure the biggest victory of his career.

He told Sky Sports: "Saturday is the most important day of my life. I trained since I was 12, I became a champion in Bulgaria when I was 14.

"This is my dream, this was the dream of my father.

READ MORE: All you need to know ahead of Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev 

"Knockout? I just need this win. I want to do it for my father, for my country, for Bulgarian sport. Not just for me.

"I am ready. I know this is my time. I wanted this fight, I waited a long time for it."

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