BIG FIGHTS PECIAL

Joshua keeps Kiwi at arm’s length to unify titles but...

ANTHONY JOSHUA added the WBO heavyweight belt to his collection last night but it was a disappointing display as he settled for a victory on points after 12 laborious rounds against Joseph Parker.

Joshua, as usual, had looked full of confidence, beaming his big smile and waving to everyone, bumping fists, as he came to the ring.

But he looked very relaxed, almost too relaxed.

And he never really got going against at ricky but negative opponent who was tough to nail.

It was doubtful if Joshua landed flush with his big right hand all night as Parker ducked underneath it or held on.

It was a unanimous decision by scores of 118-110 twice and 119-109.

It was not a KO but a deserved win nevertheless. Joshua took another step towards ultimate heavyweight unification.

He had barely a scratch on his face as he was congratulated by his team while Parker turned to his corner and looked disappointed.

‘ Twelve three- minute rounds. Let’s get ready to rumble,’ MC Michael Buffer had belted out beforehand. That was about as good as it got for excitement.

It was a steady start by both fighters. Neither took any risks in the first round. Joshua was moving nicely as he tried to get close and catch his man with a right hand.

Reach advantage was already making a difference — Joshua was the taller. Joshua was not doing much but applying the pressure nicely. Then a strong body shot was landed by him towards the round’s end. Parker seemed to feel it.

It continued to be cat and mouse in the second round but heads clashed in the third and Joshua finally came alive with a couple of shots in close which showed what he could do.

Joshua had promised to use his improving boxing skills and he was good as his word in these early stages. He was quartering the ring and measuring his man.

Parker’s renowned chin was more evident than his speed in the third. While he found it difficult to nip in close to Joshua, he had to ride not only a succession of ramrod jabs but also with stand that one shuddering burst.

Parker was enjoying some success with his sharp left hooks in the fourth but the sheer size and power of Joshua was keeping him mostly on the retreat and he was wobbled a little again.

Parker landed a sneaky lead right in the fifth and Joshua said something to him in anger. Joshua was having trouble catching his shorter, tricky foe. Parker may have edged the round.

Suitably encouraged, Parker went on all-out attack at the start of the sixth and drove Joshua around the ring with a series of rights. When Joshua landed a heavy right himself the Kiwi absorbed the shock, true to his resilient reputation.

Joshua was warned by the Italian referee for throwing a huge right uppercut on the break in the seventh.

The punch was reminiscent of the one which undid Klitschko at Wembley but fortunately it did not have the same effect. Had it done so there might have the risk of a disqualification

The tape came loose on Joshua’s left glove in the eighth. Parker was doing his best to drag Joshua into a brawl. AJ was tempted but held his temper and picked off the WBO champion with a massive left at close quarters.

This time Parker staggered but again he took a punch which might have finished many another heavyweight.

Round nine and we were in the territory in which Joshua had predicted a KO victory. But his rhythm was being interrupted by the tape on his glove coming loose.

That made for a messier round and Parker may have edged it with a couple of right-hand sorties.

Joshua reasserted himself in the 10th with three big lefts which reddened Parker’s right eye. But once again he was having trouble putting his man away. It seemed destined to go the distance now, and it did.

Parked used the ring and kept his distance to get through to the end well enough.