Anthony Joshua has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo’s tips have helped him recover better as he prepares to face Daniel Dubois.
Joshua is bidding to become a three-time heavyweight world champion as he challenges current belt holder Dubois at Wembley Stadium tomorrow night.
Joshua has spoken to Ronaldo which has helped him no endGetty
During his stellar career at the pinnacle of boxing, Joshua has been fortunate enough to brush shoulders with superstars including Real Madrid and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pair met in Saudi Arabia while ringside at Tyson Fury’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh in May.
And AJ has revealed that Ronaldo gave him advice on his sleep routine, which he believes has seen him get more rest than ever before in his career.
“Ronaldo discussed my nutrition and training routines, and he emphasized their effectiveness,” Joshua revealed in an interview with TNT Sports.
“One of my proudest achievements came when I managed to get seven hours of sleep after implementing some of his suggestions.
“The disciplined regimen he maintains to keep fit is impressive.
“And honestly, hitting that seven-hour sleep mark was a game-changer for me.”
Ronaldo has maintained incredible physical condition throughout his footballing career, where he ranks alongside the likes of Lionel Messi as one of the greatest of all-time.
He now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia as the talisman for Al Nassr at the age of 39, but still looks in superb shape.
Joshua and the global superstar Ronaldo were seen chatting to each other for several hours during the fight card.
Joshua will face a significant test against Dubois tomorrow nightMark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
AJ himself is in impressive shape going into his upcoming fight with Dubois, which could see him join an elite club by becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.
Similarly to the goalscoring machine, Joshua is in peak physical condition and has a raft of personal accolades in the sport.
Adding a win over domestic rival Dubois in front of a record crowd in London would see him take another huge step towards heavyweight immortality.
Victory is expected to set up a clash with the winner of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury which takes place on December 21.
Naturally after that fight, questions have been asked about Joshua’s career and if he will decide to retire if that fight materialises in 2025.
But his promoter Eddie Hearn believes he still has much more to give and could fight on beyond them target bouts.
“At the moment, plenty [more fights],” Hearn told talkSPORT.com.
“Everything changes after every fight, but I think I’ve never seen him enjoy boxing so much.
“The preparation, the team. It’s simple but effective. I think he’s really found his rhythm with Ben [Davison] and the camp there.
“And I think if you look back after the Oleksandr Usyk fights you might have said, ‘How many more fights? Three? Five?’
“Well we’ve had four since then and now we’re saying five [more] still.
It’s always fight by fight.”
talkSPORT will bring you exclusive live commentary of the heavyweight clash at Wembley Stadium between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois on Saturday, September 21. Download the talkSPORT app here.
