Fury believes Kiwi heavyweight ticks all the boxes
Joseph Parker has headed to London with a ringing endorsement from one of his British adversaries.
Peter Fury, the trainer who guided Tyson Fury to his 2015 upset of Wladimir Klitschko and then mentored his son Hughie Fury for last year’s clash with Parker in Manchester, believes the Kiwi has a real chance of upsetting Anthony Joshua.
WBO champion Parker and IBF and WBA champ Joshua clash in a heavyweight unification fight in Cardiff on April 1 (NZT).
Parker wrapped up an eight-week training camp in Las Vegas on Friday, hopped on a plane yesterday and is due to arrive in London today for what will surely be intense scrutiny in the two week leadup to the fight.
The knowledgeable Fury joins a growing group of respected boxing personalities who see Parker as an increasing threat the closer the fight nears.
‘‘Joshua has got to watch what he is doing because you can’t just walk into Parker – he has good power,’’ Peter Fury warned.
‘‘You’re looking at his last fights and he’s taking people the distance but these guys are durable.
‘‘Parker ticks all the boxes, he’s a fantastic young heavyweight.
‘‘I see this as a close fight, it could even be an upset.
‘‘Joshua’s the favourite and everyone would like him to win but this is not an easy fight.
‘‘Joshua has to step up to the plate because Parker is a worthy champion.’’
Parker’s final sparring sessions came against 2016 Olympic champion and budding pro Tony Yoka, of France.
Yoka is 3cm taller than Joshua and has the same 2.08m reach as the big Brit. Combating Joshua’s jab and getting to fight on the inside will be a key for Parker and Yoka’s frame and footwork has allowed him the ideal practice to achieve that.
Regular sparring partners Razvan Cojanu and Malik Scott have also been used. Interestingly, Joshua’s camp tried to get Scott involved late in their sparring phase but the big American’s loyalties are firmly with Team Parker.
Parker and trainer Kevin Barry are thrilled with the way the camp has gone.
There will be further sparring in London where Parker will spend the next 10 days before transferring to the fight venue in Cardiff. Up to 80,000 fans could cram into the Principality Stadium to see three of the four major belts get unified.
That’s a major step towards finding a true world champion, one fighter who honestly rules the glamour division.
The other fighter in that equation is America’s WBC champion
Joshua has to step up to the plate because Parker is a worthy champion. Peter Fury
Deontay Wilder.
He will be ringside in Cardiff providing some insight for the TV commentary.
Joshua, in another sign that he has his eye off the ball, has again been distracted by Wilder and warned him against entering the ring to call him out.
It seems Joshua is once again talking past Parker.
‘‘He’s flying over to come and watch me fight Joseph Parker, and this is what it’s about – it’s building up to that big clash,’’ Joshua told Sky Sports, the host broadcaster in the UK.
‘‘I’m a unified heavyweight champion. We’re talking about undisputed heavyweight champion, and that’s what we’re building towards.’’