World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua admitted he is yet to prove he is ‘the real deal’ ahead of the first defence of his IBF title against Dominic Breazeale tomorrow.

Joshua will take on American Breazeale, who has won his 17 professional fights with 15 stoppages, at the O2 tomorrow night, the same venue where he first took the IBF title against Charles Martin back in April.

The Watford 26 year old was a mismatch for Martin and a stunning second-round stoppage against the American brought that fight to an early end – and at a pre-fight press conference this week, he made it clear he was aware people were hoping Breazeale would provide sterner opposition.

Joshua said: “Some people want me to be tested and see if I’m the real deal. Behind closed doors I’ve got my head down, I’m working hard and I want to show people I’m here to stay.

“Dominic is a dangerous opponent. Each fight is a stepping stone to the big tests. I want to look like the real deal, and I’m taking him very seriously. I have to put an end to his dreams – I’m the dream crusher.

“There will always be pressure on me. Even in the amateur gym a few years back, it was the same concept; train hard, fight easy.

“I’ve always felt that pressure, and it’s only getting bigger - when I started off there were only a couple of hundred people watching me.”

Bookmakers have little expectation of Breazeale halting Joshua’s rise, and he is priced as little as 1/50 to retain his belt.

But the former American footballer, who is both heavier and taller than his British host, is keen to show he can fare better than his fellow countryman.

Breazeale said: “Everybody keeps comparing me to Charles Martin, the only thing that we have in common is that we're both American.

“We have a completely different fight style and different goals in life. I’m a big puncher and so is Anthony. He has the belt and I intend to have it on Saturday night.

“It’s an opportunity I’ve been waiting for since I started boxing professionally eight years ago. It’s something you dream of as kids, I’ve had some great rounds in the gym and I’m ready for it.

“You can expect fireworks. We’re going to go toe-to-toe.”

Joshua also this week demanded a Battle of Britain fight against Tyson Fury, irrespective of how he performs in a rematch against Wladimir Klitschko next month, which could see the Manchester fighter lose the WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts he currently holds.

The world number one was stripped of the IBF belt Joshua now holds in controversial circumstances last year, when he chose a to contest a rematch with Klitschko instead of a challenger of the federation’s choosing.

Joshua told the Telegraph the fight would be a ‘massive’ draw whether or not Fury still held his tiles after the fight on July 9.

He said: “Whenever he's ready. As soon as he's ready, we'll get it on. It's still a massive fight if he doesn't hold any belts, 100 per cent it is.

“The belts make it unbelievable for a unification, but it's still a big fight for the UK. A unification match makes it a global thing.

“We don't need Tyson Fury to hold any of the belts for us to have a big battle of Britain fight."