Anthony Joshua has told Joseph Parker that it will take “more than a human” to beat him in Cardiff at the end of March.
The heavyweight boxing rivals came face to face for the first time at today’s press conference to announce the unification bout, which will see the WBO, IBF and WBA titles go on the line at the Principality Stadium.
In recent months, Parker’s promoter David Higgins has stoked the fires by accusing Joshua of having a weak chin and getting knocked down on a number of occasions. The British star hit back at the claims by accusing his opponent’s team of spreading “fake news”.
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“When you talk about myself getting dropped and what you done, it’s a marketability strategy,” said Joshua. “When you want to talk about facts – the three times that I have been hurt or dropped was in the European Championships when [trainer Rob] McCracken knows I was actually banned from the GB team, because I was still getting in trouble.
“I stopped boxing and two weeks before that European Championship, I was called up to the country. I was very unfit, I didn’t get dropped. I got stopped. When your tank is empty, it’s hard to perform.”
Joshua added: “The second time was David Price. I had come out of a police cell the day I went up to training. I’m not going to use it as an excuse, but David Price is a puncher.”
“With Klitschko, all those times it told me, it will take more than a human to stop me from where I’m destined to be, and that’s what I learnt.
“Not to walk with sight, because when you’re fatigued you don’t know where you are. I walk with faith in this journey.
“In terms of using it as a PR stunt. The rumours that you have heard, they’re fake news. Hand on my heart. PR, whatever you want to use it for, is between you and your camp.”
Parker is confident he can beat Joshua in Cardiff but knows that he has a challenging training camp ahead of him before the March fight.
The New Zealander said: “This is probably going to be the hardest camp in terms of training... because I have a big challenge in front of me.
“Joshua, I’ve watched him for a long time. I know he’s watched me. I know his strengths, I know that he knows mine. I know his weaknesses and he thinks he knows my weaknesses.”
In spite of the tough task ahead, Parker is eager, he says, for the match to begin. “I cannot wait to have this fight happen on 31 March. Cannot wait to train, cannot wait to be back, to put on a great performance, hopefully catch him on the chin and knock him out.”
Joshua vs. Parker tickets
Matchroom Boxing has announced that tickets for the Joshua vs. Parker fight will go on sale to fight pass members from Monday, 22 January and for the general public from Tuesday, 23 January. Prices start at £40 for the cheapest tickets, rising to £2,000 for VIP tickets.
Joshua vs. Parker betting odds
The latest bookmaker prices, as of 16 January.
Paddy Power
- Anthony Joshua to win: 1/12
- Draw: 40/1
- Joseph Parker to win: 6/1
- Joshua by points or decision: 9/2
- Joshua by TKO or KO: 3/10
- Parker by points or decision: 25/1
- Parker by TKO or KO: 8/1
- Joshua to win in round one: 18/1
- Parker to win in round one: 90/1
William Hill
- Anthony Joshua to win: 1/16
- Draw: 28/1
- Joseph Parker to win: 7/1
- Joshua by points or decision: 9/2
- Joshua by TKO or KO: 1/6
- Parker by points or decision: 28/1
- Parker by TKO or KO: 12/1
- Joshua to win in round one: 14/1
- Parker to win in round one: 100/1
BetFair
- Anthony Joshua to win: 1/10
- Draw: 40/1
- Joseph Parker to win: 13/2
- Joshua by points or decision: 9/2
- Joshua by TKO or KO: 1/3
- Parker by points or decision: 33/1
- Parker by TKO or KO: 9/1
- Joshua to win in round one: 20/1
- Parker to win in round one: 90/1
