British Olympic gold medallist and current IBF, WBO, and IBO world champion Anthony Joshua has warned Joseph Parker that he is totally focused on their fight despite talk of a future bout with Deontay Wilder.

Joshua had been warned by former heavyweight champion Frank Bruno not to take the fight lightly and that Parker is a very dangerous guy.

Bruno told Sky Sports: "He is a good guy Anthony Joshua, a very, very focused guy. He is on his game - he goes to the gym and he trains very hard.

"His feet are on the ground and he deserves everything he gets.

"I think just take one step at a time because Parker is not a mug. He is a very tough guy and he comes to fight."

Joshua, Parker, and Wilder all hold versions of the world title, with Joshua and Parker fighting to unify the WBA, IBF, and WBO gold on March 31.

Speaking ahead of the fight to Sky Sports, Joshua has dismissed speculation that he might be distracted by the prospect of a unification bout with Wilder. 

"People are talking about Wilder. I'm not. That's not my focus.

"People should never overlook Joseph Parker - he's a world champion, undefeated, and he has that Kiwi blood. That's a triple threat.

"Parker - just know I'm not overlooking you, I'm taking this deadly serious, and I'm focused on the task ahead. I'm a serious competitor."

New Zealand's Joseph Parker, who has Samoan heritage, harbours the same ambition as Joshua in uniting the titles, and has talked up his chances in this fight.

"I'm young, fast, strong, my movement is good, I have a great team behind me, and I have my two nations behind me."

However, he was quick to dismiss speculation about a match-up with Wilder after this bout.

"No, we haven't planned anything yet. All our eyes are focused on Anthony Joshua; all these other heavyweights can talk to us after this fight."

Wilder himself has stoked the flames about a potential fight between himself and Joshua, telling Starsport: “If Joshua wins on March 31 then there should be no more waiting or excuses, there should be nothing else to block this fight.

“We are both young, we are both in our prime and we are both undefeated. We both have knocked out every guy put in front of us.

“It would be one for the history books, this would be the most exciting heavyweight title fight in years."

Talking about his chances in the potential fight, he added:  “I am positive there will be one champion, there will be one face, there will be one undefeated fighter left and he goes by the name of Deontay Wilder.”