Anthony Joshua has revealed he is driven by a fear of losing and conceding his status as the world’s leading fighter.

Since unifying the WBA, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles with his dramatic stoppage defeat of Wladimir Klitschko and amid Floyd Mayweather’s retirement, Joshua has become perhaps the world’s highest-profile fighter and inherited boxing’s biggest scalp.

On Saturday at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, in front an expected 78,000-strong crowd, he fights the WBO champion Joseph Parker in a bid to win a third of the four world titles, when – despite being the significant favourite – he will be wary of his prospects.

Defeat to Parker would end Joshua’s hopes of then fighting Deontay Wilder for all four world titles in what would be the most significant match-up in the world, and he also explained it was that fear that led to his perceived snub of media from New Zealand and Samoa, which Parker described as “disrespectful”.

“It keeps me going,” the 28-year-old said. “I don’t want to lose. I have to focus on my training.

“The fear of losing: unless I take care of my business, no one’s going to want to interview me anyway, so I have to make sure I stay focused on the job at hand. That’s the fear of losing: it keeps me motivated; I just know how quickly the tables can turn. One minute you’re the man, and the next you’re not.”

Also scheduled for this card, heavyweights Alexander Povetkin and David Price will collide, former world champion Anthony Crolla will faces Edson Ramirez. Crolla is back in action following his win over three-weight king Ricky Burns in Manchester in October.

Ryan Burnett defends his WBA World Bantamweight crown against Yonfrez Parejo, Josh Kelly also goes for his first belt against former IBF World champion Carlos Molina for the WBA International Welterweight title and Welshman Joe Cordina fights for his first pro title with the WBA International Lightweight belt on the line against Andy Townend.