Anthony Joshua insists a shelved fight with Wladimir Klitschko has not dampened his motivation to defend his IBF world heavyweight title against Eric Molina.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist makes a second defence of his IBF strap against stand-in opponent Molina at the Manchester Arena on Dec. 10, after a fight against Klitschko fell through.
After the Klitschko fight was put back until at least spring 2017, Joshua was linked to a clash with fellow Briton David Price. While that bout may have been more popular in the UK, Joshua said he was not being distracted by future fights or that he underestimated his American opponent.
"Nothing has changed, I always knew I would have someone who is game and everyone is going to up their levels by 50 or 60 percent when there is a championship belt on the table," Joshua said.
"I have to put Wladimir Klitschko or David Price or whoever is in pecking order to the back of mind. If I was sparring for Klitschko or Molina you have the same ambition, and that's to win."
Former world heavyweight No.1 Klitschko, who was champion for over nine years until losing on points to Briton Tyson Fury nearly a year ago, lies in wait for Joshua so long as he beats Molina. Joshua-Klitschko is being lined up for March or April and possibly at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Joshua was due to face Klitschko until the Ukrainian suffered a slight calf injury in training and it was also decided there was not enough time to promote the fight.
Joshua, though, is not the first world champion Molina has faced. The 34-year-old was knocked out in the ninth round when he challenged fellow American Deontay Wilder for the WBC strap last year.
"It took massive courage to step in that ring with Deontay Wilder who is known as a one-punch knockout artists and he stood up to a lot of his punches so that shows what he is made of," Joshua said.
"You can expect the usual: combinations and a good night of boxing. This a gladiatorial sport, we put our lives on the line."
Molina has registered two stoppage wins since losing to Wilder, including a 10th round knockout of former world cruiserweight and light-heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek in April. The Texan insists he deserves his shot at Joshua's world title as he aims to become the first professional opponent to avoid getting knocked out by the Londoner.
"He's going to have the toughest fight of his career -- that's a guarantee," Molina said.
"This is the heavyweight division and what makes it so exciting is that any one punch can change the fight and I bring that to the table. If you slip up you end up on your back and he's a clever guy and I think he appreciates that.
"The experience that I've got, I just don't see him running over me. In this game when you lose, everyone leaves your side, but I've had to do it the hard way and I've earned my ticket here.
"We had a lot of momentum heading in to the Adamek fight and I'm thankful for this opportunity and I'm ready to go."