Anthony Joshua (WBA, IBF, IBO) vs. Joseph Parker (WBO) - March 31st 2018

[Spiker]

I hope Parker knocks out AJ and then knocks Hearn into the audience.

[wesshaw1985]

[Weirdyman]

Who's the referee for this fight? I heard it was some Italian, could be important if he's quick to jump in.

[Stuarty]

Who's the referee for this fight? I heard it was some Italian, could be important if he's quick to jump in.

Aye some Taly dude. Can't remember seeing him before although I'm sure I'd have saw him somewhere along the line. At least it's not one of our own car crash referees!

Parker looks a tough guy so hopefully he's given every chance if AJ is unloading and the ref doesn't just panic.

[wesshaw1985]

[Nightmare Roy]

Any one else think Parker might be a Mark Lamar fan?

[KiwiRider]

We had the antipodean version of
A one hour promo for the fight last night.
There are a lot more AJ highlights than Parker ones
They also had Nigel Benn on the panel which was a nice surprise.
He really is a very dapper man, isn't he?

[Grailer]

Parker came from nothing , a small country at the edge of the world . He and his father had a dream and soon that dream will be closer to realisation .. to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

[Like a Boss]

Who's the referee for this fight? I heard it was some Italian, could be important if he's quick to jump in.

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/613846

Giuseppe Quartarone

[KiwiRider]

Joshua flashing his 8 abs and calling Parker 'the King of pies' at the final presser

That's a compliment down here.
I wish I was the King of pies

[ILikeBeer]

Better the king of pies than the king of poos.

[KiwiRider]

Did any of you lot know about Parker's elbow surgery before this week?
I never heard a thing

Malik says;

Veteran heavyweight Scott has been helping Parker hone his skills ahead of fight and insists the New Zealander is at his absolute optimum.
Scott told Sky Sports: “When he was getting ready for Fury, there was times in sparring where we were having to stop.
"I don't think that the elbow, the shoulder, none of that is an issue right now. The only thing that's an issue, the most important thing, is there are two young lions, two great champions, and they want to rock. I cannot wait to see it.
“[Parker has a] totally different power now. I will say the last time it was like 70 percent to me. Right now it's at 120.
"The reason why I say that is, because I come from a perspective of Joseph Parker never had thudding power. He's always had accurate power. The speed slowed down because of the elbow.
"Now that the elbow is fixed, the speed is back up, which means it gets to the target quicker. Which means you don't see the shots coming, which causes more pain, and more knockouts."

Interesting..

[Grailer]

Did any of you lot know about Parker's elbow surgery before this week?
I never heard a thing

Malik says;

Veteran heavyweight Scott has been helping Parker hone his skills ahead of fight and insists the New Zealander is at his absolute optimum.
Scott told Sky Sports: “When he was getting ready for Fury, there was times in sparring where we were having to stop.
"I don't think that the elbow, the shoulder, none of that is an issue right now. The only thing that's an issue, the most important thing, is there are two young lions, two great champions, and they want to rock. I cannot wait to see it.
“[Parker has a] totally different power now. I will say the last time it was like 70 percent to me. Right now it's at 120.
"The reason why I say that is, because I come from a perspective of Joseph Parker never had thudding power. He's always had accurate power. The speed slowed down because of the elbow.
"Now that the elbow is fixed, the speed is back up, which means it gets to the target quicker. Which means you don't see the shots coming, which causes more pain, and more knockouts."

Interesting..

Parker is an 8-1 underdog, he fights AJ 8x and gets 1 win. Maybe he will get lucky and win.

I envision AJ slips forward on some of Parker’s blood just as Parker is throwing a right hand which lands flush on AJ’s chin .

[samwbr]

He'll struggle to get past Joshuas jab. He's not strong enough to out work him inside, it's going to be a hard night for Parker.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[ElJefe]

Shame that Andy Townend has pulled out of the Cordina fight with injury. Was a decent step up that, Townend can punch.

[stellar]

[KiwiRider]

Parker is an 8-1 underdog, he fights AJ 8x and gets 1 win. Maybe he will get lucky and win.

I envision AJ slips forward on some of Parker’s blood just as Parker is throwing a right hand which lands flush on AJ’s chin .

I don't doubt that.
I was just interested in if anyone knew about the surgery.
Hard thing to keep quiet given the media etc

[Tugger28]

It’s absolutely laughable how sky are trying to build this fight..I think the’re hoping no one watched the Fury/Takam fights, where he looked average at best.

[ShadrachSimmo]

It’s absolutely laughable how sky are trying to build this fight..I think the’re hoping no one watched the Fury/Takam fights, where he looked average at best.

The Ruiz fight springs to mind too. I can see this ending pretty quickly maybe even inside 3. Parker is bigging himself up as some kind of invincible monster who's never been down. Maybe he is but I've seen very little to suggest this..

[Boxerbeetle]

Joshua looking a lot leaner in the public workout on Sky Sports News now. Good to see.

[Boxerbeetle]

Still has a bit of a ‘belly’ on him though. Hmmm...

[wesshaw1985]

[samwbr]

It’s absolutely laughable how sky are trying to build this fight..I think the’re hoping no one watched the Fury/Takam fights, where he looked average at best.

God forbid they try and sell their product.

[Oiky]

Deluded aren't they