Parker rooting for Joshua loss

Joseph Parker has risked the ire of unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua by revealing he has sent messages of support to the Brit’s opponent, Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller, ahead of their June showdown in New York.

Speaking to Sky Sports in the UK, the Kiwi heavyweight said he would be rooting for the brash New Yorker to upset former foe Joshua at Madison Square Garden.

‘‘I’m good friends with Miller, so it’s one of those fights where I hope it goes well, and I hope he can pull it off, but it’s going to be a hard task, because Joshua is a champion. I’m just going to be interested as a heavyweight boxer and a fan of the sport’’, Parker said.

Parker suffered his first professional defeat to Joshua when the pair met in a unificiation clash in Cardiff last March, with the Englishman adding his WBO world title to his belt collection.

Parker said he had received support from Miller ahead of his fight with Joshua at the Principality Stadium, and would be returning the favour.

‘‘We get along well, we message each other, and I’m supporting him because he supported me when I had the Joshua fight,’’ Parker said. ‘‘Both fighters are great fighters, and very respectful. It’s going to be good to see them matched in the ring.’’

‘‘Yeah, I’ll be supporting Miller.’’

Parker also felt that the brash New Yorker, who is unbeaten in 24 fights, had managed to get under Joshua’s skin at the opening press conference in New York last month.

The American sparked angry scenes when he gave Joshua a violent shove as they came together before a word had even been spoken.

And Parker feels the big Brit may have been rattled by the outspoken Miller’s antics as he backed the Brooklyn native to pull off a stunning victory on home soil.

‘‘Boxing antics . . . things happen all the time . . . and you’ve just got to take it how it is,’’ Parker said. ‘‘I think he got under his skin. Miller is just playing the game, doing what he has to do. It’s just one of those things where it’s interesting for boxing.’’

Meanwhile, Parker welcomed talk of his proposed bout with veteran British slugger Dereck Chisora being rescheduled for July, while admitting that he was also interested in a fight with lineal champ Tyson Fury.

‘‘We’ll fight anyone,’’ Parker said. ‘‘I’ve got a lot of respect for Tyson and he is the man.

‘‘But it comes down to boxing, and if I want to be the best, I have to fight the best.’’