This weekend, Anthony Joshua finally returns to the ring and ‘AJ’ will look to add Joseph Parker’s WBO heavyweight world title to his collection of IBF, IBO and WBA titles when he faces off with the New Zealander on March 31st.
As we rapidly approach fight time, Joshua has been discussing how he will approach the upcoming unification clash. Additionally, ‘AJ’ shared that he will look to adopt a different approach from his early fights and look to execute class by deploying a sniper style of fighting.
Say it with your chest. #AboveTheNoise@beatsbydrepic.twitter.com/iFmxYTAC7p
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) March 26, 2018
“Someone asked me if I get Parker hurt will I go in and execute. That’s where you have to be a bit clever and do what you did to get them hurt.
“When you get them hurt you’re like, ‘Bang’.
But if you can do what you did to get them hurt in the first place and learning how to execute in more of an assassin style rather than a brave warrior riding through on a horse slinging a weapon and killing everyone.
“They get chopped up as well. I’m trying to be a sniper. That’s probably my mindset now – be a bit more calculating.”
Joshua was quick to pay tribute to Parker and his team for their experience but stressed he will ‘break him down’.
“He’s talented, very talented. He has his amateur pedigree, his trainer Kevin Barry is experienced.
T-1 Week 🥊 #AJBXNGpic.twitter.com/Z2KiYBtGuY
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) March 24, 2018
I’m dealing with a guy who has his country on his back, that obviously gives him a little bit of fuel as well.
He’s a man of pride. But, no matter about all these positive things I say about him, my job is to knock one off the list as each round goes on and just break him down.
“When he goes back to his corner in round one, I just want him to realise his trainer lied to him. What he said about speed – I’ll match him for speed.
You know when they tell you, ‘You can hit him with a left hook’, and it isn’t happening. ‘You can hit him with a right hand’, and it isn’t happening.
Lastly, Joshua warned that the realisation will dawn on Parker during the course of the fight that he is in ‘with a real one.’
https://twitter.com/anthonyfjoshua/status/977217453502713858
‘He’s going to gas in round six or round seven, he has stamina problems’, and I’m still there. ‘He can’t take a punch’, and I’m still there in round whatever. He’ll soon realise he’s in with a real one.
“One-hundred percent I will break his spirit and mentality. If the opportunity comes then it happens. Even Mike Tyson went a few rounds now and again, even though he was a devastating puncher.”
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