Current WBA, IBF, and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua wants to pick WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker apart before finishing him off in their unification bout on March 31st.
Joshua and Parker will meet in the squared circle in front of 80,000 fans at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Recently Parker has questioned Joshua's stamina inside the ring, as well as the strength of his chin in recent months.
The 28-year-old undefeated knockout artist wants to prove a point against his New Zealander counterpart, comparing his game-plan that of a 'sniper' who is more calculated inside the ring.
Joshua wants to not only beat Parker physically, but mentally as well, saying he one hundred percent will break him mentally and spiritually (quotes via Boxing Scene):
“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.
“He’s talented, very talented. He has his amateur pedigree, his trainer Kevin Barry is experienced.
"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.
"‘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 devastating puncher.”
What are your thoughts on Joshua's comments regarding what he wants to do to Parker inside the ring? Do you think that Joshua is maybe a little too confident heading into his fight against the WBO champ? Or will his knockout streak continue in Cardiff en-route to a meeting with Deontay Wilder? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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