Heavyweight contender Carlos Takam (35-3-1, 27 KOs) is very eager to get in the ring with IBF, IBO, WBA world champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs).

Their fight takes place next Saturday night, October 28, at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in front of 80,000 fans. The fight will be Joshua's first since capturing the WBA, IBO belts with a stoppage win over Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley in London - back in April.

Takam is coming in on less than two week's notice, after mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev suffered a should injury and withdrew from the bout on Monday.

Takam has faced stiff competition in the past.

Last year he lost a very close twelve round decision to current WBO champion Joseph Parker. One year earlier, he was brutally knocked out by Alexander Povetkin in a fight for the WBC silver heavyweight title. It was the only stoppage loss of Takam's career.

Because they are both world champions and possibly in line to fight in 2018 - many experts will compare Joshua's performance against Takam to what Parker was able to do with the Cameroon veteran.

Against Joshua, Takam will go up against a very hostile crowd, but he does not appear worried about the environment.

"I don't know if I'm excited stressed or confused but I'm definitely ready for the fight. It will be a proper fight," he told Sky Sports News.

"AJ is a good boxer who likes to box and I like opponents who like to come forward and throw punches. I like to get stuck in as well.

"I believe in myself. I never go into a fight thinking I might lose - I'm a winner, I like to win not to lose. I'm not scared, 80,000 fans means nothing to me. I've boxed in New Zealand, Canada, Russia [so] that won't faze me. It's about what happens in the ring. It's about me and him."