Parker blasts Joshua attitude
ONE week out from the fight of his life, Joseph Parker is the media darling of New Zealand sport but it seems the love affair is a two-way street.
The Kiwi heavyweight has fired a volley of verbal blows at Anthony Joshua during a press conference yesterday, NZ time, and his biggest gripe is the big Brit’s lack of respect for the New Zealand and Samoan media.
Earlier in the week – ahead of the world heavyweight unification title fight for their WBA, IBF and WBO belts in Cardiff on Sunday, NZ time – Joshua is alleged to have shunned the waiting New Zealand and Samoa media.
A move that saw Parker demand Joshua be ‘‘more respectful’’.
‘‘It’s his decision but it’s disrespectful,’’ Parker told Sky Sports UK. ‘‘They’ve travelled a long way to see [Joshua], and they respect him.
‘‘We were friendly [to British media] and invited them to our home. He should be more respectful.’’
In a fiery press conference, Parker has also thrown doubt over Joshua’s preparations following speculation he will hit the scales much lighter than for his win over Wladimir Klitschko last year.
‘‘If he trusted in his body, he wouldn’t be trying to change who he is.
‘‘He’s trying to be faster and leaner – I don’t know if he is trying to be him or me? We will be lighter. Faster, stronger, better movement,’’ Parker told SKY Sports UK.
Parker said his team are focus- ing on their own preparation and are not concerned with Joshua.
‘‘They can do whatever they want – it won’t change a thing. He’s probably trying to get advice from Klitschko.
‘‘We have [Joshua vs Klitschko] playing in the gym every day. There are things we saw that we can do better. We can catch AJ,’’ Parker said.
‘‘The public are judging us on our last two or three fights and they see Joshua as a fighter who is [unbeatable]. There is the element of surprise. Everyone thinks this is an easy win for him, but that’s motivation for us. I want to get in there and bash him.
‘‘They are looking past our team. If they are in discussions [to fight Deontay Wilder], so be it. But he has to be careful because someone’s in their way.’’
Meanwhile, Parker is predicting plenty of improvement from his much talked about double elbow surgery that he underwent in December.
‘‘In the past five or six fights I haven’t shown the jab that I showed early in my career,’’ he said. ‘‘The jab is key to set up our attack phases, and I have it back now. There will be a lot of jabs,’’ Parker told Sky Sports UK.
Parker’s trainer, Kevin Barry is also praising the effects of the PHOTOSPORT surgery. ‘‘We tried to schedule surgery many times but opportunities came up, so we pushed it back. The last two years we’ve been fighting less than 100 per cent. Since the surgery, there have been benefits.
‘‘This has been the best camp we’ve had in a long time and that’s why we’re confident,’’ Barry said.
‘‘I know the troubles we’ve had in the gym, and the pain Joseph has had on a daily basis. How he has achieved the successes he has had is mind-boggling.
‘‘The surgeon said: ‘How was he able to perform at a world elite level?’’’ TIMES GETTY IMAGES to being the guy that’s rock bottom, when everything is against me, I’m used to losing in life. I’ve been losing since I was a child, so, for me, it’s win, win, win.’’
Whyte’s career has been on a steady upward curve since he was knocked out by Joshua. Old amateur opponents with a clear antipathy between them, Whyte got his chance first time around because of their rivalry. If he gets another chance, it will be on his emergence as a solid contender. He is on a winning run of six to earn him the No1 spot in the WBC’s rankings and in line to be made Wilder’s next mandatory contender. A win over Browne, the Australian who briefly held the WBAtitle until he failed a drugs test, would be his best yet.
‘‘He is looking for a way back in and I’m looking to prove I am ready to step up and fight for a world title,’’ Whyte said.
‘‘That wasn’t a heavy knockout [against Joshua]. By the time of the finish I was shattered. My shoulder broke in the second round. I could have taken a knee but I’m a warrior.
‘‘I’m 30 to 40 per cent better than the fighter who fought Joshua and there is still more to come.’’