Anthony Joshua: My biggest fear in boxing is to end up slurring my words like Muhammad Ali

ANTHONY JOSHUA says his biggest fear is that he will end up "mumbling and slurring" his words after taking punches to the head - just like his hero Muhammad Ali.

The sports icon passed away last weekend after a 30-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

Anthony Joshua has revealed his biggest fear in the ring is to suffer difficulties with his speech as a result of repeated blows to the head - like Muhammad AliCredit: Reuters

Images of The Greatest visibly shaking as he lit the Olympic flame at Atlanta 1996 and struggling to speak as he accepted a Sports Personality of the Century Award remain fresh in the mind.

And IBF world heavyweight champion Joshua says it is suffering brain damage like that, rather than death itself, that is his biggest fear.

He said: "The effect boxing is having on my brain - I know if I don't look after myself I will be talking in a couple years' time mumbling my words and slurring.

The late Muhammad Ali had to fight the effects of his Parkinson's so much when lighting the Olympic flame in 1996 that his arms actually suffered burnsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Muhammad Ali blocks the punches of Larry Holmes in their 1980 Las Vegas boutCredit: AP:Associated Press

Muhammad Ali was Anthony Joshua's hero - but he doesn't want his ailmentsCredit: MH14

"It won't be because I am drunk. It will be the fighting, taking blow after blow to the brain.

"That scares me. I don't worry about being killed in the ring, it's losing my mind that I fear."

The Watford-born bruiser faces the first defence of his world title against undefeated American Dominic Breazeale at London's O2 on June 25.

Anthony Joshua will defend his IBF title against Dominic Breazeale this monthCredit: Getty Images

Dillian Whyte was the only person to seriously trouble Joshua as he took the heavyweight world by storm.

And though the Olympic champ has so far brushed aside everything in his path, he said Nick Blackwell's scare reminded him how fragile life can be for those 12 rounds on the canvas.

Joshua said: "Nick Blackwell’s injuries last month reminded me how dangerous the sport is.

British boxer Nick Blackwell was forced to retire from boxing after being placed in a week-long coma following his brutal fight with Chris Eubank Jr in MarchCredit: Reuters

"My coach makes me understand how dangerous this sport is.

"I try not to think about it. I want to knock my next opponent out, I definitely want him down. But I walk around and people are shouting, 'AJ knock him out! Knock him out!' And it’s weird.

"Imagine people applauding you for committing a crime. It’s like that for me.

Anthony Joshua's interview will appear in this week's ES magazine, out now

"You don’t really think about the crime until you get caught. If anything ever happened to one of my opponents after I hit them and I caused them injury, I would realise what a serious business this is.

"Nick was a warrior. Maybe too much so — he raised his pain threshold so high it meant he couldn’t feel how damaged he was getting."

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Anthony Joshua: My biggest fear in boxing is to end up slurring my words like Muhammad Ali

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