Experts split in picking result of title fight

Greats of the fight game weigh in on the most anticipated heavyweight bout of 2018.

It’s being labelled ‘‘the most meaningful heavyweight fight in a long time’’ and there’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to picking a winner between Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua.

WBO champion Parker takes on WBA and IBF champion Joshua in Cardiff on March 31 in a fight that goes a long way to unifying the glamour division.

Here’s a collection of thoughts from some of the biggest names in the game since the fight was announced in January.

The consensus is that Parker has a real chance though Joshua deserves the strong favouritism he takes into the ring as the two unbeaten heavyweights play out a career-defining fight.

Freddie Roach, Hall of Fame trainer: Parker is a much better fighter than people give him credit for. But I don’t think he can beat Joshua at this point of his career.

Jarrell Miller, US heavyweight contender: That’s a closer fight than most people think. Parker has faster hands, way better footwork and he’s not as chinny as we have seen with AJ. AJ thinks muscles win fights and that has been a problem for his last two fights when he has looked muscle-bound. It’s 50-50 though I’m leaning towards Joshua but I’m not counting Parker out.

Shannon Briggs, veteran US heavyweight: It’s going to be a good, fast, big heavyweight fight. It could go either way. I don’t know how big a puncher Parker is but his hands are crazy, I love the way he throws a variety of different punches.

David Haye, former world heavyweight champion: It’s a great fight, two young unbeaten heavyweights putting everything on the line. It’s the most meaningful heavyweight fight for a long time. The AJ-Klitschko fight was big but Klitschko was 41, an old man. Parker is 26, he’s a young man with no miles on the clock, he’s had no operations, no lay-offs, no knockout defeats, he’s in his prime. So this is where we are going to see who is the best young heavyweight at the moment.

David Coldwell, respected British trainer: It’s courageous by both fighters. But how is Parker going to react when he is in the lion’s den in front of 80,000 people, how is he going to react when he gets hit and hurt, how is Parker going to react if he goes down? These are questions they have been asking of Anthony Joshua. There are more questions to be asked of Parker than there are of AJ. But this will be AJ’s second toughest fight behind Wladimir Klitschko. There’s a strong possibility he could be hit and hurt in this fight. I don’t think it will go the distance. If Parker is durable, he has a chance because he throws punches, he has reasonably fast hands, he’s physically big and strong. So if he’s durable and AJ doesn’t give him the respect he deserves, and AJ gets tired, then it becomes an interesting fight down the last quarter.

Deontay Wilder, WBC world heavyweight champion: Parker is going to have to knock out Joshua to win. I see it going later rounds. I definitely give Parker a chance.

Andy Ruiz, Mexican heavyweight and former Parker opponent: Joshua looks strong but in the heavyweights anything can happen, it can take only one hit that changes the whole fight.

Hasim Rahman, former world heavyweight champion: I give Parker no shot . . . slim and none. He can’t beat Joshua.

Tony Bellew, former world cruiserweight champion: AJ will eat Joseph Parker. A very good big guy will always beat a good little guy.

Lucas Browne, unbeaten Australian heavyweight: It’s probably a 70-30 split for AJ.

Tony Yoka, France’s Olympic champion and Parker sparring partner: Parker can take a punch, we’ve never seen him down. He has some good speed and some good skills. Joshua is strong but we saw him take some punishment against Klitschko and he had some difficulty against Takam. But Joshua is still the favourite.

Andre Ward, former multiple world champion: I like Parker, he is athletic, big and strong. The most important thing for him is the moment not being too big for him. If that’s the case, he has a shot.

Dillian Whyte, British heavyweight contender: I think Joshua stops Parker in six rounds, I don’t think Parker is physically strong enough or mentally prepared. He might cause Joshua a few problems because he has got quick hands but I see Joshua stopping him.

Paulie Malignaggi, US former two-weight world champion and analyst: It’s hard to pick against Joshua. I like that he’s not taking on soft cupcakes. Both fighters are undefeated, this is it.

Jim Lampley, veteran US boxing commentator: I think Joshua knocks Parker out. Parker is quick but I don’t think he has enough to keep Joshua off him and Joshua’s punch is special.

Bob Arum, veteran promoter: Joshua is a great fighter and very ballsy but I don’t think he has a good chin. I really think his chin is suspect. Parker may not be the greatest boxer in the world but Parker has a chin like iron. I think Parker will stay in there with Joshua and he could knock Joshua out.

Virgil Hunter, respected US boxing trainer: Parker hasn’t been in a stressful situation like Joshua has but he does have attributes that Joshua must take seriously. I can’t pick a winner though the paper says Joshua should win.