Joshua accepts apology

ANTHONY JOSHUA has accepted an apology for a drugs slur directed at him by Joseph Parker. Joshua was responding to Parker’s admission that he ‘regrets’ previously accusing Joshua of steroids abuse. ‘i don’t take things like this to heart,’ said Joshua as he and Parker came face to face in London to mark the signing of their multi-million-pound contract. ‘they know the reality. i pay my dues for random testing throughout the year by UKAD for the british boxing board of control. the rival camp can’t rile me.’ thus Joshua set his now familiar tone of respect in the preamble for these super-fights. Yet he did admit that if Parker and his team had carried on insulting — now that they have their 33-per-cent split of the projected £23million take — he would have responded with greater vehemence. Joshua revealed he has invited Prince Harry to be among the 80,000 crowd in cardiff’s Principality Stadium to watch his heavyweight world-title unification fight with Parker on March 31. Joshua said: ‘He loves his boxing and likes that i am bringing these huge events to our country. We’re sending him an invite. if he doesn’t want to make himself too obvious by sitting ringside, we can give him a place in the royal box.’