Anthony Joshua not worried about next opponent but vows to deliver another knockout night

By Richard Damerell and Andy Burton

See what happened when heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua invited the public via social media to join him on a training run

Anthony Joshua insists he is not worried about the identity of his next opponent and is only concerned about delivering another knockout win for his fans.

The IBF heavyweight champion is yet to learn who will be in the opposite corner when he makes the second defence of his title at Manchester Arena on November 26.

Kubrat Pulev, Joseph Parker and Bermane Stiverne are on a three-man shortlist of opponents drawn up by promoter Eddie Hearn, who is planning an ambitious night of heavyweight action.

Image: Joshua halted Dominic Breazeale in June at The O2

But Joshua does not have a preference for any of his possible foes and is only interested in extending his destructive run of 17 straight stoppage victories.

"Whoever it is out of the three - Parker, Pulev and Stiverne, that was the shortlist. If it's not one of them, then they are all going to be on the show," Joshua told Sky Sports News HQ.

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Whoever it is, the same result has to occur - knockouts. It doesn't really bother me who it is, because my objective is just to win.
Anthony Joshua

"[If it's] one of those three, [then] the other two somehow will perform on the show. We're trying to make it an all-heavyweight [night], a real night of the giants.

"Whoever it is, the same result has to occur - knockouts. It doesn't really bother me who it is, because my objective is just to win."

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Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua's next fight will be held at the Manchester Arena on November 26

Joshua's favourite hunting ground has been The O2 in London, but he is fighting outside of the capital for the first time in five bouts.  

He has demonstrated his punch power once before in Manchester, halting Konstantin Airich in the third round in 2014, and is confident he can handle the switch in surroundings.

Asked how he can create a hostile atmosphere, Joshua said: "By knocking my opponent out really, that's what people come to see.

"It doesn't matter where I fight. As I said, my main goal is to win.

"As long as it's a packed arena, it's a good undercard, and I handle business as I should, people will have a good night, they are entertained so it's no problem fighting in Manchester for me."

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