Joshua has been mightily impressive in putting together a perfect 10-0 record since turning professional with Eddie Hearn and is planning to make a huge statement once again the trash-talking American in the New Year.
“Kevin Johnson is my toughest challenge not just physically, but verbally as well,” Joshua told Sky Sports News HQ.
“With the training I will do over the Christmas period, I am sure I’ll be exploiting Kevin Johnson’s weaknesses.”
Johnson, 35, offered to bet Joshua half his purse, which he would then pass on to charity, if ‘AJ’ could stop him within the twelve rounds – although Joshua was keeping focused on the job in hand at Wednesday’s press conference.
“All I am thinking about right now is the fight. I wanted to ask Kevin Johnson what round he wanted to be knocked out in,” said Joshua.
“It’s not important to go the rounds at all as I’m making it up after the fight and in sparring before the fight. So it’s just compliments to my trainer and everything I am doing in the gym that I am stopping guys so early on.
“I expect him to be a good sparring partner. Someone who comes to be awkward and tries to survive. He is going to give a few, but I am going to give tens of hundreds of punches throughout the rounds so it’s going to be an amazing show.
“I pumped and I am looking to it. I believe we won’t see the final bell.
“The longer someone is in there, the more I get to show. I mean 90 seconds or three rounds, I know it is exciting at the minute, but there is not that much I can display. Kevin Johnson will compliment my style and I will be able to show everything I have been working on for the last seven years so it’s going to be entertaining.
“Kevin takes care of the verbal side, but January 31 I take care of the physical side,” he added.
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