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Joshua questions Parker’s ring craft, intends to ‘kill the body’

Written by Keeran Rajan on 15th January 2018.

So the unification clash is on, Anthony Joshua will make his return to the ring on March 31st when he will put his unified IBF, IBO and WBA (Super) world heavyweight titles on the line in a clash with New Zealand’s WBO world heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker.

Both champions come into this fight boasting undefeated records. Furthermore, this is the first world heavyweight title unification bout since David Haye’s one-sided loss to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011.

Ahead of the showdown, Joshua caught up with Sky Sports and he told them that he is never one to back down from the competition.

Instead ‘AJ’ is excited at the possibility of picking up his fourth world title and inch closer to becoming an undisputed world heavyweight champion.

“I like to fight, that’s the main objective, and it’s showing I’m never shy of a competition.”

“He’s a respectable competitor, he is the WBO heavyweight champion of the world, so it’s like one step closer to adding a strap to my legacy. That’s what makes it exciting,” Joshua told Sky Sports.

Joshua delivered his verdict on what he has seen of New Zealander and questioned his ring craft and his ability to dictate the terms of the fight to the opponent inside the squared circle.

“He hasn’t been taught ring generalship and how to cut off the ring, because he was following him around.”

“You need to be able to corner your opponent.”

“Nevertheless, he got the win, which is always the main objective,” Joshua said.

“Ring generalship is always important. But this is the situation with the heavyweight division at the minute is that the champions are still learning fighters. I won’t pick too many faults yet. He’s still learning.”

Joseph Parker has been very vocal about his toughness prior to the official announcement of this fight.

Joshua says that doesn’t concern him whatsoever and he will instead plan to unfurl the vicious body assault he delivered on Carlos Takam in October.

“I’m going to smash him up to the body.”

“What slowed [Carlos] Takam down is when I started punching him to the stomach.”

“Jab to the stomach, right hand to the stomach.”

“If someone has got a strong head, you hit them to the body.”

It’s quite simple so if Parker’s got a granite chin, I’ll weaken his body down,” Joshua concluded.

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