NO ORDINARY JO
ANTHONY JOSHUA reckons Joseph Parker will have the measure of Hughie Fury on Saturday.
And the world heavyweight champion also believes it won’t be long before he and the big Kiwi cross paths for the sake of heavyweight boxing.
Parker’s WBO world heavyweight belt will be on the line in Manchester against Tyson Fury’s cousin.
Should he come through that then the Auckland-born fighter will look for a unification clash with IBF, IBO and WBA champion Joshua.
Joshua, 27, who faces Kubrat Pulev on October 28, said: “Parker is quite strong. Hughie can outbox Parker but I’m not sure how long for.
“So maybe we’ll see Parker win with a late-round stoppage.
“I’ll box Parker in the future but I’m not sure about Hughie – I spoke to him a few times a few years ago but it never happened.
“I’m not too sure what route Hughie will take. Although I was supposed to fight Pulev a few years ago and it never happened so you never know.
“But Parker, I can be sure it has to happen – we have to come together to keep the division alive.”
Joshua and Parker’s camps have already spoken about a potential fight and Fury insists that is disrespectful. He said: “Parker is obviously overlooking me. That’s the worst thing he could ever do and he will see that on September 23.
“Eddie Hearn ( Joshua’s promoter) is a cockroach. I hope Parker is well prepared, that’s for sure. I’ve had the best camp in my life and it will bring the best out of me.
“Being the underdog doesn’t really bother me, I feel like the champion anyway so it’s a matter of time. I will prove that. “I’m not going to give anything away but it will be an exciting fight – the fight of his life. It’s going to be a complete war.”
Parker, like Fury (left), has used David Haye’s gym in London for part of his preparation, although Fury says there’s no bone of contention that a fellow British fighter is helping out an opponent.
He added: “He’s going to need all the help he can get.”
The vast majority of Fury’s training has taken place outdoors. He said: “I’ve done the whole training camp in the Lake District and it has been brutal, hard – blood, sweat and tears.” ■■Parker v Fury is exclusively live on YouTube at a special advance offer price of £9.99 (UK) and €11.99 (R.O.I) until midnight tonight. Go to www.youtube.com/parkerfury