Anthony Joshua rules out post-fight handshake for Joseph Parker

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anthony Joshua says he will command the respect of Joseph Parker after inflicting a punishing defeat on the New Zealander, but insists there will not be a post-fight handshake.

The WBA 'super' and IBF champion has been angered by a verbal attack from Parker and his promotional team ahead of his heavyweight unification clash with the WBO title holder at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Joshua suggests that Parker does not deserve to be mentioned alongside other champion sportsmen and will not offer a gesture of appreciation after he delivers a first humbling loss to the 26-year-old.

Asked about Parker's pre-fight comments, Joshua exclusively told Sky Sports: "I haven't seen them all, but I've heard some of them.

"In sports you've got the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi, LeBron James, and then you've got people like Joseph Parker, so he's not a respectable type of person, he can't control himself.

"But that's just how it is. You've got to accept people for who they are. If that's how he wants to plan his shot, we let him crack on.

"He'll be respectful after I whoop him. He might try to shake my hand. I won't shake his hand though."

Parker has questioned the punch resistance of Joshua, who was floored for the first time in his professional career in the Wembley win over Wladimir Klitschko, even ending his own tweets with the mocking hashtag of 'never been dropped.'

"I'm going to smash him up to the body," said Joshua. "What slowed [Carlos] Takam down is when I started punching him to the stomach.

"Jab to the stomach, right hand to the stomach. If someone has got a strong head, you hit them to the body. It's quite simple so if Parker's got a granite chin, I'll weaken his body down."

[Ruthless-RKO]

He can say all that now. But when it comes to it. They will both shake hands and hug. All trash-talk is done in boxinf 90% of it is strictly business, to promote the fight. This is Parker's biggest fight to date. He's trying to get as much promotion done on his end to maximise his own profits.

[Boxerbeetle]

Beeeeeeeef!

[Exoddus]

Let the selling of the fight begin!

[jamamb]

well im buying now

[leejonesjnr]

Meh, I think Parker is a pretty respectful and likeable guy

[Grailer]

Joshua is getting knocked out .

The only way Parker can lose this fight is if He hits Joshua while he is unconscious on the ground.

[Nightmare Roy]

It's more Parker's promoter who's caused all the aggro, I've never heard Parker say much himself.

[dirk2686]

It's more Parker's promoter who's caused all the aggro, I've never heard Parker say much himself.

Yeah, wasn't he ranting and raving like some maniac during a Hughie v Parker press conference?

Parker always comes across like a fairly normal bloke. He can try the whole 'I've not been knocked down and he has' line but he's not got much more to go on.

[asdfjkl]

Sad to hear him talking this way, I start disliking AJ more and more TBH, does he ex drugsdealer care about his own child?

[handsofstone]

Sad to hear him talking this way, I start disliking AJ more and more TBH, does he ex drugsdealer care about his own child?

Hahaha your an oddball Arsejiffy

[samwbr]

Sad to hear him talking this way, I start disliking AJ more and more TBH, does he ex drugsdealer care about his own child?

What business is it of yours you weirdo?

[samwbr]

Joshua is getting knocked out .

The only way Parker can lose this fight is if He hits Joshua while he is unconscious on the ground.

Parker hasn't got the power required.

[leejonesjnr]

Joshua is getting knocked out .

The only way Parker can lose this fight is if He hits Joshua while he is unconscious on the ground.

Parker hasn't got the power required.

Parker certainly has the power to do it, probably not the ability to get in position to do it

[jamamb]

parker hardly showed any power vs takam, hughie, or ruiz

[tigermoth87]

When Parker wins he should rub his balls on AJ's face.

[Boxerbeetle]

When Parker wins he should rub his balls on AJ's face.

Teabag

[samwbr]

Joshua is getting knocked out .

The only way Parker can lose this fight is if He hits Joshua while he is unconscious on the ground.

Parker hasn't got the power required.

Parker certainly has the power to do it, probably not the ability to get in position to do it

I've not seen it.

[sammy95]

Does he have the punch resistance and work rate to tire AJ out though?

One thing for sure, AJ cannot afford to come in at 254 again.... lets hope for nearer 245-248

[tobyh5]

I rate AJ more than I used to but there is definitely a vulnerability there which I think someone with durability and power could exploit. Parker certainly could be that man as he does have attributes that make it interesting but the way he has struggled himself as he has stepped up slightly in class suggests he will fall by the wayside.

I was at the Takem fight though and you just sensed his engine going and the chances of an upset began to increase by the minute and that opens door in my mind, but still 80-20 AJ in my mind

[dirk2686]

Does he have the punch resistance and work rate to tire AJ out though?

One thing for sure, AJ cannot afford to come in at 254 again.... lets hope for nearer 245-248

McCracken has been pretty open that they're aiming for him to come in lighter.

I think a lot of the criticism of Joshua is more in hope than expectation from some. He didn't look 'great' against Takam but he dropped him and pretty much won every round easy. He was wobbled against Whyte for a few seconds before clearer his head and wrecking him, and obviously got up from a huge shot against Wlad. It's fairly slim pickings, especially when compared to the issues his rivals have had.

[sammy95]

Does he have the punch resistance and work rate to tire AJ out though?

One thing for sure, AJ cannot afford to come in at 254 again.... lets hope for nearer 245-248

McCracken has been pretty open that they're aiming for him to come in lighter.

I think a lot of the criticism of Joshua is more in hope than expectation from some. He didn't look 'great' against Takam but he dropped him and pretty much won every round easy. He was wobbled against Whyte for a few seconds before clearer his head and wrecking him, and obviously got up from a huge shot against Wlad. It's fairly slim pickings, especially when compared to the issues his rivals have had.

I am unsure if Parker is a good enough boxer to frustrate AJ enough to make him gas, but if anything it will give us a better measurement on how AJ would deal with Fury. Which is the fight we all want in reality.

[boxingknockout]

#stayhumble

I can’t help it but every fight I see since and including the Dillian Whyte fight I have wanted to see him beaten and beaten spectacularly.

He’s just such a hypocritical bellend. However it’s important he is superior to me apparently, so who am I to criticise?

[ewenhay]

#stayhumble

I can’t help it but every fight I see since and including the Dillian Whyte fight I have wanted to see him beaten and beaten spectacularly.

He’s just such a hypocritical bellend. However it’s important he is superior to me apparently, so who am I to criticise?

Aye, he's pretty thin skinned is Joshua, pretty easy to get under his skin

[Grailer]

Has Parker ever been dropped by any opponent?

Parker can go 12 rounds , can Joshua?

If Joshua gasses and Parker comes out firing can Joshua’s chin handle it? Probably not.