Anthony Joshua heads into his bout against rival world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday with Deontay Wilder lying in wait — but the Briton insists he is not looking beyond this fight.
Joshua is putting his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles on the line against World Boxing Organisation champion Parker in front of an expected 78,000 sell-out crowd at the Principality Stadium.
It will be the first time two undefeated heavyweight champions have met in a title fight in the United Kingdom, with the British Olympic gold medallist boasting a professional record of 20 wins, including 20 knockouts, from as many contests, while New Zealander Parker has stopped 18 of his opponents inside the distance during an unbeaten 24-fight career.
But next in line for the winner is Deontay Wilder, the American who holds the World Boxing Council version of the heavyweight title.
“It’s 1,000 percent one fight at a time,” Joshua told a news conference at the London headquarters of broadcaster Sky Sports.
“My future stops on Saturday. One fight at a time. All this talk about Wilder. I’m looking at Parker, he’s a champion for a reason.”
Joshua added: “He (Parker) is quick and he can take a punch but that is what I have heard, so I am repeating what people are saying.
“Let’s say I’ve got £20 in my pocket, looking at myself I believe Anthony Joshua knocks out Joseph Parker for sure.”
AFP
