Anthony Joshua says Dominic Breazeale's dreams will be crushed when the challenger enters his O2 "jungle" on Saturday.

Joshua's backyard has been rebranded 'the lion's den' in the run-up to the first defence of his IBF heavyweight title, live on Sky Sports Box Office this weekend.

And the champion barely flinched when Breazeale chose Thursday's face-off at Sky Studios to inform him "there is a new lion in town."

"I told him 'you're in my jungle now'," said a relaxed Joshua after hundreds turned out to hear the Olympic champion nickname himself "the dream crusher" at a public press conference.

"I've got nothing to lose. I've always explained let's get rid of the belts, the atmosphere, because when the bell goes it's just me and him in the ring - two gladiators, two respectful warriors coming together. We're going to slug it out and put our 0s on the line."

Joshua is threatening to alter his style for the weekend as he aims to show the paying public more than the power which has blasted out all 16 opponents to date.

But he stopped short of giving Sky Sports News HQ a guarantee Breazeale would take him further than the seven rounds Dillian Whyte managed in December.

"Once the bell goes you can't hide the instinct to get someone out of there," he said. "I hope I can go in there relaxed and do what I've been planning, but once that bell goes something comes over you and you want to get him out of there ASAP.

"If the opportunity comes I'll take it, but if he's skilful enough to dodge and evade these types of punches the fans should be in for a longer fight than usual."

Beyond Breazeale lies the promise of richer fights to come against the likes of Tyson Fury, David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko.

Joshua said: "I need to keep on being ahead of my time because I'm at the stage where I've got to be fighting guys who are ahead of my time.

"That's why I've really got to go in there and show I'm capable of dealing with Dominic Breazeale in good fashion."