ANTHONY JOSHUA has predicted that Dillian Whyte will struggle to match his victory over Alexander Povetkin.
AJ stopped the Russian heavyweight in the seventh round of their world title fight at Wembley and will be ringside to watch his clash with the Body-Snatcher on Saturday.
Whyte has already revealed that he is targeting an early win over Povetkin with the victor mandated to fight the victor of Tyson Fury’s trilogy against Deontay Wilder.
Yet Joshua has warned his Brit rival that he will be made to work for it when he faces the former WBA champion this weekend.
AJ told Sky Sports: “Everyone has issues in training, if he [Whyte] trained right, he will come through.
“He is a fighter, Dillian. But Povetkin is a seriously skilled heavyweight – an Olympic gold medallist, a world champion whose only losses were against [Wladimir] Klitschko and me.
“He’s good, a good fighter who hasn’t been on the losing end much so hasn’t got used to that feeling.
“He still has the hunger and will go in against Dillian thinking he can win.”
Asked for his prediction, Joshua added: “It will go to a points decision.”
Joshua was beaten by Whyte in an amateur 2009 battle before gaining revenge by stoppage six years later in the professional ranks.
The Watford boxer has already been warned that he will be chinned should he confront the Brixton ace in the ring as he did after the latter beat Dereck Chisora in 2018.
Eddie Hearn has already revealed Joshua will prioritise a rematch against Whyte for the WBC title if Fury is stripped of his belt.
The Matchroom promoter revealed earlier in the week how the WBA, WBO and IBF king is keen to become the first undisputed heavyweight champ since 1999.
And Whyte told Sky Sports: “If he wants it, he can get it.
“I’ve told him already before. I’ve told him many times. I’m not scared to fight him. I want to fight him. It’s not like it’s a secret.”
Hearn has once again stressed how AJ will press ahead to fight WBC mandatory Whyte should Fury refuse to face the Body Snatcher.
In the meantime, Joshua is still waiting on a date for his clash with Kubrat Pulev.
The Bulgarian bruiser recently branded AJ “arrogant” for letting his attention drift towards a mega clash with Fury.
