The heavyweight championship unification bout between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker is nearly a done deal. The WBA Super, IBF & IBO champion confirmed himself that fight fans should expect an announcement in the near future.
“I think we’re 95 per of the way there with completing with Joseph Parker,” said Joshua when being a guest on BBC’s Five Live Sports Week programme.
Respected American boxing pundit Frank Lotierzo has already listed multiple reasons why Joshua will claim the WBO World heavyweight championship with ease.
Lotierzo believes Joshua will ‘dispatch’ the Kiwi.
“I don’t think he will have any trouble with Parker and it will be on to (Deontay) Wilder after he dispatches Parker,” said Lotierzo according to The Boxing Channel.
“Realistically when you look at these two guys and what they bring to the ring, I just don’t see any path to victory for Parker. There’s nothing that he does better,” told the pundit.
“Joshua just has too many weapons to neutralise Parker. He’s probably the better boxer, he’s the bigger, stronger guy and, something no one is talking about, is he has about a five or six inches advantage in the reach. That’s going to make it really tough for Parker to get to him,” he added.
Parker’s biggest advantage, according to himself, is Joshua’s chin. Lotierzo acknowledges this but doesn’t think it’s a valid argument due to the Wladimir Klitschko fight.
“In order for Parker to hurt him I think he’s going to have to catch Joshua coming in. Everything is going to have to line up right and he’s going to hit him with his best shot and maybe he’s going to shake him.
“Klitschko caught Joshua with that, dropped him, hurt him, had him holding on a bit. But Joshua showed he has the reserve and the toughness and desire to win. If he can steer out of those waters and make it back to shore, I just don’t know how Parker can take him,” said Lotierzo.
Though he does bring up two flaws in Joshua’s game which, according to the American, are footwork and defence but Lotierzo doesn’t believe Parker will be able to cause much pressure against Joshua.
“Parker won’t force the fight as a boxer against Joshua because Joshua is going to push the fight like he always does from behind his jab which is accurate, hard and pretty quick. He will look to set up his right hand and keep Parker on his back foot and then once he gets close he will unload some big uppercuts and the hook,” pondered Lotierzo.
Lotierzo’s argument rests on the fact that Joshua is simply more talented as a boxer and as a brawler. He also brings up the issue of Parker not being able to finish fights against high-level competition possibly due to lack of power and conditioning.
In his last three fights against Andy Ruiz Jr, Razvan Cojanu, and Hughie Fury, the WBO World heavyweight champion went to the distance in every time.
Lotierzo also added that Parker is too hittable which will favour Joshua massively in the upcoming fight.
“It’s not like Parker is a barn-burner and he sets a blistering pace. And also, Parker is not the most difficult guy to hit. All the last three guys managed to hit him enough to stay in the fight and go the distance,” concluded the American.
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