Anthony Joshua: Ill punish Joseph Parker and stop him in nine rounds
Anthony Joshua expects to knock Joseph Parker out by the ninth round of their heavyweight unification fight on Saturday.
The IBF and WBA (Super) champion has a reputation to uphold having successfully predicted the outcome of his last four fights and pocketed £650 at the weekend when his sixth-round knockout bet on Dillian Whyte came through.
Joshua admitted he wants to maintain his winning streak and imagines a tired Parker to be open to a knockout by the eighth round.
More: Boxing
Ill punish him when hes throwing at me and Ill punish him when hes thinking of throwing at me, Joshua explains.
I dont know [what round]. You should have asked me the round before you told me about my predictions [streak] because now its on my mind.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
You prepare for a 12-round fight. One thing I used to think was, when you say its going four rounds and youre opponent is still in there round eight. Takam I said ten rounds, I said Id beat him in ten rounds.
I always say, mentally, Im going to go 12 rounds. But, if everything goes to plan I think people fade between round eight and nine. I think Parker will fade around eight or nine.
Parker is considered the underdog for the contest at the Cardiffs Principality Stadium, while Joshua will be fighting in front of 80,000 British fans.
The New Zealander will have pockets of support scattered across the stadium, but Joshua is convinced he has spotted Parkers greatest weakness, his lack of counter-punching.
And Joshua plans to exploit that weakness to force his 21st stoppage in a row, which will also claim the Brit the WBO heavyweight title.
Meet straight, dont back up, Joshua said when what hell do when the first bell rings.
Im not saying Im going to be marching forward, but you meet him at a distance and you meet him coming in from distance. Position the hands and footwork.
Establish a range early on, and the difference is I know how to counter punch. I havent seen Parker counter punching anyone.
Metro.co.uk is reporting in association with Betfair – for latest odds go here.
Joshua vs Parker Odds
JOSHUA
To Win – 8/1
By KO – 11/4
By UD – 11/2
DRAW – 40/1
PARKER
To Win – 13/2
By KO – 16/1
By UD – 33/1
*Odds courtesy of Betfair
More: Boxing
AdvertisementAdvertisement
[contf]
[contfnew]
METRO
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
