“I hope the people in the pub have one for me”: Anthony Joshua on his upcoming fight against Dominic Breazeale

Joshua faces undefeated American Dominic Breazeale at The O2 on 25 June, live on Sky Sports Box Office​, having dismissed Charles Martin in two rounds in April to win the IBF belt with his 16th straight knockout victory.

"Charles seemed a bit more reserved, but confident," Joshua told us. "Dominic just seems to think: 'I'm big, I'm strong, I'm confident, Anthony's this, he hasn't done that… ' – he's just different. I think if I give him a chance to be confident in the ring, he'll flourish. He'll box out of his skin. But if I shut him down early, he'll go back to the man who he really is and realise that he's not ready for this level. I just have to dominate Breazeale.

"I think Dominic's easy to study – a quarterback coming into boxing late. I know he doesn't rate what Charles Martin does, I know he thinks he could beat Fury. I don't know much more about his background but I've been studying his fights and that's the important thing."

Joshua's record is unblemished, winning all 16 of his previous fights by knockout, but he's not getting carried away. "You go into a fight, you get an opportunity and you prepare the best you can. You either come out on top or you don't. Boxing is a risk. There's no easy way. The champion is a champion for a reason."

The O2 has become something of a fortress for Joshua, and he acknowledges the atmosphere works in his favour. "Whether you like it or not, the crowd's going to affect you. Even as a spectator, the atmosphere affects you – you think: 'Whoa, this is mad!' So if it's like that for the spectators, imagine what it's like when someone's trying to knock you out!

"I try and flip-reverse that intensity into a positive. I just embrace it, get on with it and have a good time and try and perform.

"Then afterwards – and God willing I win - you've seen me, I'm there with the fans! They've got to drag me out the ring because I'm there for ages celebrating. I embrace the atmosphere, but I know I've got to win."

Joshua has impressed with some electrifying displays of raw strength in his previous bouts, and is a huge fan favourite, selling out arenas and attracting people to pubs and bars to watch his fights. And he doesn't downplay the importance of putting on a show.

"Perform for the crowd? That's why I train! It's not a given that anyone's ever going to win so I train the best way I can, get myself ready. One thing I know is that when I come out, it's daunting. People want to see someone get knocked out. I bring it. And I've got to keep on bringing that entertainment. I just know I've got to live up to the expectations of the fans."

Does Joshua fear anyone? "Not so much fear, but I understand people's strengths and I understand their weaknesses. I'm starting to learn who's got the physical strengths and weaknesses, who's got the right or wrong mentality.

"Fury's not scared of me. He's a fighting man, he was born with it – he's name's Tyson! You can't have a name like Tyson and be scared! But after his fight with [Wladimir] Klitschko, if he weighs up what retirement has to offer or what defending his belts has to offer, I think he'll stay in the game."

Joshua trains three times a day in the gym, so it may come as no surprise that he struggles to find time for the pub, but he has called on boxing fans to get behind him in venues up and down the country come 25 June.

"In my local area where I grew up, I didn't drink much, but my pals' grandads would always be in the pubs and we'd always pass through and see them. With my training, the pub's not my den, but I do pass through.

"Saying that, when I'm out there fighting, I hope the people in the pub have one for me!"

• Anthony Joshua v Dominic Breazeale is exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on 25 June. Order before 9pm on Friday 17 June for only £195 (RRP £250). To order, call Sky on 08442 411 870 (calls to Sky cost 7p/minute plus your provider's access charge.​