The Heavyweight division can look to take centre stage in Boxing this year with the upcoming confirmation of the Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker unification fight which looks to start 2018 with a bang.
Talks between the two camps seem very advanced and we await the announcement to an excellent match up between two young and unbeaten champions.
Parker and promoter David Higgins have worked hard over the last few months waging a war of words on Joshua and mostly his suspect chin, which is not really the friendly New Zealanders style but it seems to have hit a nerve with the 28 year old unbeaten Londoner.
.@anthonyfjoshua doesn't a 65-35% between two unbeaten champions sound fair? Nearly double our share. Don't worry a rematch clause is there in case you're worried about your chin #NoExcusesNow#NeverBeenDropped .@EddieHearn .@D_Higgins_Duco
— Joseph Parker (@joeboxerparker) November 27, 2017
The proposed unification looks likely to take place on 31st March with Cardiff’s principality stadium the most obvious venue, for what is a very intriguing fight.
Parker has a 24 fight unbeaten record and at just 25 years of age holds the WBO version of the heavyweight crown. He has done very little wrong in his six and half year professional career and has never been floored as an amateur or pro.
Even so, he has managed to slip under the radar with unremarkable showings like the Hughie Fury win which on paper looks fine but from ringside it did not inspire hope of undisputed heavyweight glory.
.@anthonyfjoshua 65% & rematch not enough to unify? Believe your own hype? Bubble's gonna burst bro #BigGlassRobot@eddiehearn @d_higgins_duco #NeverBeenDroppedpic.twitter.com/HYVAVAtFj8
— Joseph Parker (@joeboxerparker) December 7, 2017
Anthony Joshua, however, was marvellous in beating long time heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko on a fabulous night at Wembley Stadium in April last year. Joshua then put on a lacklustre performance against 12 day substitute Carlos Takam who he stopped the 10th round in a slightly disappointing affair.
This is a good fight at a good time in both Champions careers, because they both have something to prove in their quest to find the true heavyweight king.
Joshua is the bigger man and has advantages in height and reach but could size be to his disadvantage as he gets bigger and more chiselled?
He appears to struggle with stamina as the fight wears on to the later stages as shown with Takam. Or will his bigger bulk and power prove too much for Parker in a toe to toe slug out? Joshua for me is the obvious favourite, but Parker should not be written off by any means, as he’s a strong undefeated champion with an excellent chin and can punch.
This could prove a true test for Joshua, or the springboard to Heavyweight greatness.