The better man won, says Parker
"I guess Joshua is the man to beat and he got off the canvas and showed heart." Joseph Parker
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker says the ‘‘best man won on the day’’ but has suggested Anthony Joshua still has plenty to work on following his victory over Wladimir Klitschko in London.
In front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium, Joshua and Klitschko traded punches in a spectacular fifth round and again in the sixth before Joshua finished the 41-yearold in the 11th round to ensure he had the IBF, WBA and IBO world heavyweight belts tucked away.
Parker, who holds the WBO belt, and is on track for a showdown with Joshua at some stage, watched the fight in Auckland yesterday morning as he prepares for his own bout against Romanian Razvan Cojanu on Saturday.
Before the Joshua-klitschko contest, he initially pointed to a Joshua win before then predicting it would be a Klitschko who would come out on top.
Parker said he enjoyed sitting back and watching two other leading heavyweights go at it.
‘‘It was an exciting fight, I was excited to watch the fight and I was analysing what I could’ve done against both fighters.
‘‘It was great to see Joshua - he went through a bit of a hard time in the fight but good to see him come back strong and maintain his title and get the other one.’’
Parker said Joshua was now the man to topple but the focus for the moment is very much on Cojanu on Saturday.
‘‘I guess Joshua is the man to beat and he got off the canvas and showed heart but I think every fighter has things they have to work on, weaknesses and strengths so I feel like I have to get past this next fight and I look forward at sitting down and planning a fight with him in the future.
‘‘I think with Joshua his team is going to sit down and analyse what they do right or wrong, I think he’s still got a lot to work on, like myself, I’ve got a lot to work on myself.
‘‘I think Klitschko looked great, 41 years old - he looked in great shape, he’s still got a lot of power. I feel like it could’ve been his fight but I guess the better man won on the day.’’
Parker’s shot at Joshua maybe a wee bit down the track yet.
The most likely option for Joshua will be a showdown with Kubrat Pulev next. WBC champion Deontay Wilder is also positioning himself for a crack.