Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua expects to get confirmation this week of his proposed unification bout against heavyweight rival Joseph Parker.
It’s rumoured that Joshua vs. Parker could take place on 31 March in Cardiff. The Principality Stadium, where Joshua beat Carlos Takam in October, is the likely venue says the BBC. The Daily Express adds that Twickenham and Old Trafford have also been considered.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
New Zealander Parker is the holder of the WBO belt while Joshua is the current WBA and IBF champion. Sky Sports says that Parker has been issued a “weight target” by his trainer and could be a stone lighter than Joshua if the two meet in the ring.
Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry told Sky Sports: “I can’t speak for Anthony Joshua, but I can speak for Joseph Parker, and yes we’ll come in lighter for this fight. I think it’s very important that Joe is very fast on his feet and very mobile in this fight against Joshua.
“We’ve been planning for this day. We’ve been thinking about this fight, we’ve been visualising Joe in the ring with Joshua. The styles of these guys match up very, very well.”
Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder believes that a bout against Joshua would not be difficult to arrange. The WBC champion is prepared to travel to get in the ring with the British star. Wilder faces Luis Ortiz on 3 March but is already looking towards a future duel with Joshua.
Speaking to the Express the American said: “I don’t think the business side is going to be that difficult, especially after I beat Luis Ortiz and I knock him out.
“I’m not worried about travelling. But is he [Joshua] worried about travelling? He’s never travelled, and he ain’t planning on travelling. I like to travel.”
Joshua v Parker betting odds
Best prices according to the bookmakers:
- Joshua to win: 1/20
- Draw: 33/1
- Parker to win: 9/1
- Joshua to win: 1/20
- Draw: 33/1
- Parker to win: 9/1
- Joshua to win: 1/25
- Draw: 28/1
- Parker to win: 17/2
-
The US Open's controversial 'superstars' doubles formatTalking Point New shortened competition attracts star pairings and bigger audiences to grand slam tennis event
-
Sudoku medium: August 21, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Sudoku hard: August 21, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Is it time for Anthony Joshua to retire?After his latest brutal defeat, British boxing's 'poster boy' has a difficult choice to make
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assaultSpeed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pantsSpeed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second comingSpeed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender firstSpeed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreedSpeed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrationsSpeed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
