Ronaldo holds secret of youth for boxing champ Joshua

The Age

Anthony Joshua has studied the training regime of Cristiano Ronaldo to try to extend his career.

The world heavyweight champion, who defends his titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, said that he had visited laboratories of sports manufacturer Under Armour to see how Ronaldo maintains his body for peak performance.

“You have to preserve your body”: Boxing star Anthony Joshua.

Photo: PA

“Cristiano Ronaldo did a body test. He is 33, but has the body of a 21-year-old. You have to preserve your body,” explained Joshua, 28.

“I could go in there and knock out Povetkin in a round or two, but then there is the eight weeks of -intense sparring, doing 200 rounds, you have to protect your body.”

Eddie Hearn, the fighter’s -promoter said of Joshua: “When he went to Under Armour, it blew his mind. For a British fighter, Anthony is by far the most advanced in terms of training facilities or what he does. These -scientists looked at his sleep and -rehab. Joshua’s drive is the challenge to improve himself.”

Joshua has also been studying the regimes of some of the greats – Floyd Mayweather, who had 50 fights undefeated, Manny Pacquiao, who claimed world titles in multiple divisions, and the -current standout fighter in world boxing, Vasyl Lomachenko, a double Olympic and three-weight world champion.

Peak performance: Cristiano Ronaldo.

Photo: AP

“I am learning to -adjust my life. When I watched a Pacquiao -documentary, he trains when his body is ready. It looks lazy, but you’re still getting the same amount of work done and in a better way.”

Hearn added: “He is obsessed with improvements. He knows when he has to eat, sleep and -nothing will get in the way of that.”

Joshua has said that he wants another decade in the sport. Hearn is sceptical, though. “His desire at the moment is deeper than ever, but he might not fancy coming up to -Sheffield and into camp any more.”