Heavyweight tilt tonight: Joshua vs. Parker
The closer Anthony Joshua gets to boxing greatness, the more the sport’s new superstar is driven by a fear of failure.
“I just know how quickly the tables can turn,” the 28-year-old Englishman said in one of the more candid moments of his build-up to tonight’s heavyweight unification fight against Joseph Parker in Cardiff.
“One minute you’re the man, and the next you’re not.”
Parker represents a big threat to Joshua’s seemingly unstoppable rise to the status of undisputed champion of boxing’s most glamorous division.
The 26-year-old New Zealander has never been knocked to the canvas in a 24-fight professional career and, like his opponent, is unbeaten.
Then there’s the revelation, made last week, that Parker has been fighting for the past two years with a debilitating elbow injury that prevented him from executing his jab in three title fights.
After two surgeries late last year, he is fully fit and likely to be a different fighter to the one Joshua will have seen in video clips.
And there’s his heritage. A New Zealander of Samoan descent, Parker first began thumping a punch bag at age four under the gaze of father Dempsey — named after Jack Dempsey, the American heavyweight champ from 1919-26 — and he emerged from an impressive amateur career with fast hands, a warrior spirit and, now, the WBO belt.
Joshua — the WBA and IBF titleholder with a 20-0 record (20 KOs) — has been the epitome of cool, to the point of arrogance, some say, over the last few weeks, but he knows he is in for a real fight.
So does his promoter, who has one eye on an even bigger bout — against American Deontay Wilder — later this year.
“That’s the biggest fight in world boxing,” Eddie Hearn said of Joshua-Wilder. “But I honestly see this fight as a tougher fight than Wilder. Not necessarily more dangerous, but just a tougher all-round fight, technically. I’m nervous for the fight and I know AJ’s mind is completely on Joseph Parker.”
The defining fight for Joshua so far was the epic victory over former champion Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium last April.
He was already a huge name at home, but that win grabbed the attention of the world — and ended Klitschko’s career.
Having successfully defended his belts with a 10th-round stoppage of Carlos Takam in front of 77,000 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October, Joshua has been taking advice from Klitschko’s trainer ahead of his return to the Welsh capital.
“I’m finding ways to improve and new ways to get better,” said Joshua, whose power is undisputed — Parker’s less so, particularly in light of his elbow issues.
Joshua is learning to control fights behind his jab and reach, which will be four inches longer than his opponent’s.
Joshua and Parker have shed the pounds for their bout. At a weigh-in on Friday where both fighters showed respect for each other, Joshua tipped the scales at 242 pounds — 12 pounds lighter than his most recent fight against Takam in October.
Parker weighed 236 pounds — nine pounds lighter than his last fight against Hughie Fury in September.
“I feel better,” said Joshua, who hasn’t been this light for a world title fight. “When I put this weight into the real thing, I’ll be a lot sharper and my reactions and timing will be better.”
After the stare-down, Parker and Joshua shook hands and briefly chatted on the stage.
“We’re both going to be moving well,” Parker said, “and throwing big bombs.”
Joshua said fans might see a different side to him tonight.
“Boxing is not just about brute strength, it’s about finesse and technique,” he said. “So you’re going to see some real class skills in there.”
The fighters were addressing a crowd of about 4,000 people at the weigh-in at Motorpoint Arena in a rainy Cardiff.
Parker entered the stage to a few jeers, moments after supporters welcomed him with a New Zealand haka and a Samoan siva.
Parker looked like he meant business, whereas Joshua was all smiles as he highfived some fans on his walk to the stage.
Around 78,000 fans are expected tonight at the nearby Principality Stadium.