Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua is “nervous” ahead of fighting Kubrat Pulev in front of just 1,000 people next week, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. Joshua puts his IBF, WBA and WBO belts on the line against Bulgarian Pulev at Wembley Arena on December 12. The 31-year-old is used to fighting in front of packed stadiums and arenas but Tier 2 restrictions in London mean only 1,000 can attend the bout.

Hearn says there will be a different feeling for Joshua and claims there are already nerves as he attempts to put on a show for just a select few next Saturday.

“Normally when you have 80,000 or 90,000 people there, your friends will come, the family will come – that’s not the case this time,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“It’s going to be a really unique situation, he’s pleased that people are coming back through the doors, he’s so focused.

“He is a little bit nervous, I think there’s the pressure that he feels going into this fight.”

Joshua needs to beat Pulev to keep his belts and have the chance of becoming undisputed champion when he fights Tyson Fury next year.

And Hearn admits he will be pleading for the former Olympic champion to get the job done.

“Everyone knows that victory against Kubrat Pulev will land the Tyson Fury fight in 2021,” Hearn added.

“We’ve fallen at hurdles before on the doorstep of undisputed, but what I see from Anthony Joshua in the gym, he is just the best heavyweight in the world.