British fighter inspired by Mayweather discipline

Anthony Joshua will take inspiration from Floyd Mayweather to ensure he retains his composure when he fights to unify the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles tonight against Joseph Parker.

A 78,000-strong crowd is expected at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium where Joshua attempts to become the first to defeat WBO champion Parker in his first fight since those present at his victory over Carlos Takam booed through dissatisfaction at its conclusion.

The challenger that night for the 28-year-old’s WBA and IBF titles was rescued in the tenth round by the referee, before Joshua could secure a convincing knockout and after he had become angered by Takam’s headbutts.

Victory over Takam followed that over Wladimir Klitschko, when Joshua risked defeat in pursuit of an early knockout, but despite external pressure to deliver the finish many expect tonight, Joshua is determined to remain disciplined.

Given Mayweather, pictured, preceded Joshua as the world’s leading fighter during a run in which he rarely won inside the distance, the Briton said: “You can’t always be trying to please people, because you’re never going to win.

“Mayweather, as great as he is, goes 12 rounds the majority of the time, and everyone claps and says how great the performance was, but because I don’t knock my opponent out in two rounds it’s a bad performance. Everyone’s got opinions.

“My job was to control Takam, move him around the ring where I wanted him, and secure the win so I could move forward to 2018, and that was a mature performance.

“I have to do the job for myself. It’s about performance, not just about going in there, looking for him and going ‘Bosh’ and hoping he flies out of the ring.

“My job was to perform, control the fight. He didn’t give me any problems apart from the headbutt, and people are looking past the boxing IQ.”

It was

also widely

felt that in last year’s dramatic victory over Klitschko, secured despite a relative lack of experience and which established his status as the world’s leading heavyweight, Joshua performed like a fighter in his prime.

He has instead warned the 26-year-old Parker – who represents a more dangerous opponent than his status as underdog suggests – that he expects to only begin to enter his prime, and also that he expects to win between rounds seven and nine.

“You’re going to see me start priming, but I’m not in my prime yet,” he added.

“In my head I have to prepare for a 12-round fight, but if we’re talking about where it’ll end, I’m hoping to go somewhere between seven and nine.”