He may not yet be a household name, but Anthony Joshua is quickly and quietly climbing the ranks among the world’s best Heavyweight boxers. On the eve of his British title fight with bitter rival Dillian Whyte, find out all you need to know about the hard-hitting Londoner in our exclusive interview from October 2014

** Anthony Joshua: I grew up in Watford, but I later moved to London. I was 18 and settling in; I started going to the gym just to keep active. At the time, my cousin was boxing, so I used to go with him. Not to train necessarily just to chill out, but then I got involved and started boxing. I enjoyed it, cracked on, kept my head down, and that was it really

**After winning the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) championships in 2010, you were offered £50k to turn professional, but turned it down to wait until 2013. Why?

** From day one I had a good coach in Shaun Murphy, he taught me to be aware of the sharks in sport, especially in boxing.

So, back then, when this guy asked me if I wanted to turn pro I just knew – the way he approached me, you could tell he was just throwing money at me. It wasn’t done in a professional manner. I knew I needed more experience, so I said “look, I’m not ready yet, but thanks for your offer.”

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You went on to win Olympic gold at the 2012 games in London, can you tell us a bit about the experience?

I had competed with a lot of those guys in the World Championships. You’re fighting against the best in the world; every bout is tough. It was my first big experience, so I tried to play it down; I acted like it was just another tournament, I told myself that it was just another ABA Championship. But if I win four fights I become Olympic Champion.

And you fought the defending champion Roberto Camerelle in the final?

Yeah, but I’d fought him a few months previously and I’d got the decision [won on points], so I had his number. I knew how to beat him.

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After the Olympics you were honoured with an MBE, what was that like?

You know what, that was a really good moment, [it was] something completely different getting invited to the palace. It was lovely for my family as well; to see the little things that started to come with the boxing. It made everyone proud.

You decided to sign with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom when you turned professional in 2013, can you tell us why you picked them over other promoters?

The way they conduct themselves in business; they are realistic and reliable, and they do things the right way. I looked at a lot of different contracts, including some European promoters, but I knew I always wanted to be based in Britain. I also knew from their track record what was possible in the next two or three years of my career.

Does Eddie have a master-plan to get you to the top?

You would have to ask Eddie about that [laughs]. My coach [Tony Sims] has got plans to make me a better fighter, so I’m just concentrating on that. He does his part in the gym, so I have to do mine; I’ve got to make sure I’m disciplined. You have to instil that kind of mentality and live that kind of life in order to become the best.

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**How important is it to have someone you trust in boxing?

** I think it’s very important. It’s good to have family and close friends to keep you grounded and to pick out people who can’t be trusted; sometimes people do stuff outside of the box, and you have to be careful.

**How often are you training?

** It’s been consistent, it’s pretty much been all year round. Honestly, everything is a hundred miles an hour at the moment.

Can you give us an example of a typical day’s training?

I’ll do some good 40-minute stamina runs; lots of stretching and I get as much rest as possible in between. Then I get ready for some sparring, normally it’s three different partners over four three-minute rounds. It’s good to fight against different styles; you have to adapt and maintain your fitness. Every four rounds you have a fresh face in there trying to take your head off and if you’re tired it’s not good. [laughs]

You always look like you’re in good shape even when not fighting, do you have any vices?

There’s nothing wrong with having a sneaky little cake now and again [laughs]. But you can’t be doing it every day, everything in moderation.

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**You are the face of FCUK Fear, which first launched with Lennox Lewis is 1999. It must be an honour to follow in such great company?

** Yeah, that’s nice, that’s real cool, man! The last fight they worked together with Lennox was his World Championship fight against Evander Holyfield. And, I’m not even the world champ, so it’s really good that they’re supporting me this early. It’s great because it’s completely different from the usual sporting stuff; it’s cool.

How much are you into fashion?

My day to day stuff is tracksuits because I’m always in the gym, so I like to be comfortable. But when I go out, if I go to an event, I like to throw on a suit, and I love to look good. If you look good, you feel good.

What piece of clothing should every man own?

You have to have a nice pair of shoes. Well shined, like those army guys. A well-polished pair of shoes shows that you’re responsible, and you take pride in yourself.

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What has been your biggest fashion blunder?

[laughs] Half my wardrobe is a fashion blunder! I need to up my game…[laughs]

What has been your biggest extravagance so far?

I sent my mum and my niece on a real nice holiday to Antalya in Turkey. That’s it so far…

Who is Britain’s best-dressed man?

David Beckham. Yeah, Becks, he always looks good.

**Can you recommend a good book?

** Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki. It’s about what the rich and the poor teach us about money, it gives you an understanding of what is a good debt or a bad debt. A perspective of both sides from a financial point of view.

**There have been some great British Heavyweight Champions over the years; including Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis, do you feel the pressure of expectation to be the next one?

** I brush it off. I don’t think of it as pressure; it’s more like hype. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing and not get involved in it all; then I can achieve what is expected of me.

The FCUK Fear range is available at frenchconnection.com

Anthony Joshua fights Dillian Whyte for the British Heavyweight Title on Saturday 12 December. Live from 5pm on Sky Sports Box Office