• Heavyweight

Joshua: Celebrity lifestyle won't make me the best

Anthony Joshua has seen off all eight of his professional opponents to date inside four rounds © PA Photos

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Anthony Joshua believes he will be Britain's No.1 heavyweight this time next year, so long as he shuns the celebrity lifestyle.

The London 2012 Olympic gold medallist has demolished all eight of his eight opponents inside four rounds in his first year as a professional.

Joshua, 24, faces Russian Denis Bakhtov at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday before a British title eliminator against Reading's Michael Sprott in Liverpool on November 22.

Joshua's fellow Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison flopped in the professional ranks but the Watford boxer insists he will continue making rapid progress so long as he lives the quiet life.

And Joshua is confident he will be ready to take on the best of British next year including the likes of Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora, who clash on November 29.

"The turnaround is short between fights and last Monday I could have been at the Pride of Britain awards, but I can't make it or other things," Joshua told ESPN.

"I was watching a Bernard Hopkins documentary the other day and what kept him at the top for so long was staying in the gym and staying away from the temptations of a celebrity lifestyle.

"Because it has been so busy I've not had so much time to do anything. I'm always either in the car going to the gym or at the gym.

"Hard work pays off. If I keep my head down and live the lifestyle for the next five years I should find it a lot easier. You have to be confident in this sport. It will be tough - Fury and Chisora are not rubbish fighters - but I'm confident in my ability and know my determination will outweigh theirs.

"Next summer would be great, but it's just if I'm ready mentally for it. If I get a cut or bust a rub that's the only thing that can slow me down. If I'm getting these people out in four rounds I will still keep competing on a regular basis, once every couple of months."

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn believes the 24-year-old is on course to become one of the biggest ever boxing stars Britain has produced.

"The intention was to take him around the country to different cities and every city he has been in we have had an unbelievable response to him in Glasgow, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield and London," Hearn told ESPN.

"It's the way he looks and talks and he's just like a superstar should be. I've never seen anyone in British boxing like this for years who can take boxing to a different audience. He's a fantastic role model who kids can aspire to. Boxing over the last decade has lacked that kind of role model."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd