Joshua open to martial artist fight

Anthony Joshua has said he would be willing to box a mixed martial artist, as the build up to Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor continues.

The IBF and WBA heavyweight champion is training for his next title defence with the IBF’s mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev, favourite to be his next opponent which Joshua hopes will take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The preparations mean Joshua won’t be at Saturday’s fight between Mayweather and McGregor, live on Sky Sports Box Office, but he can see the appeal of taking on a fighter from MMA in the future.

“I like fighting, I’d do whatever,” said Joshua.

He added: “I’d probably get beaten. The only thing that they can’t do is submissions, but they can kick, elbow, bite – whatever they want. Just no submissions.

“I can’t beat a guy (via submission). That takes a lot of time to learn the skills and submissions, which I don’t have the time for, but when it comes to pure aggression and fighting rules, I can definitely fight, so I don’t mind that.

“It wouldn’t be a problem. If you look at most boxers who’ve crossed over to MMA, they get beaten on the ground. James Toney, Roy Jones, they were phenomenal boxers but they just couldn’t compete in the cage because of the ‘ground and pound’ game.”