Joshua vs. Parker: How Parker Could Land Shock Victory
While the anticipation within the heavyweight division has been geared toward the potential Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder bout, a different unification fight has emerged. Joshua seeks to add to his haul of the WBA and IBF World title belts by defeating undefeated fellow world champion Joseph Parker, who holds the WBO World strap. The huge world title unification fight is to be aired on Showtime in the USA, with the boxers ranked first and third in the heavyweight division coming to blows at Wales’ Principality Stadium on March 31. Both undefeated heavyweights come into the fight with immense national backing, but the superstar of the sport of boxing, Anthony Joshua, is the clear favorite coming into the bout. But, Parker won’t be a pushover in the ring.
Former foe sees it as speed versus strength
On October 28, 2017, Carlos Takam and Anthony Joshua battled it out in Cardiff, Wales at the same venue as the upcoming Joshua versus Parker bout. The fight came to an end when referee Phil Edwards stepped in to stop the fight in Joshua’s favor, due to a cut on Takam’s head. Joshua was perceived to have been tiring, per The Telegraph, when he claimed the fight to give Takam only the second knockout loss on his 35-4-1 record. Takam proved himself to have what is best described as a chin of obsidian, as well as being an all-around beast in the ring. Back in May 2016, Takam fought Joseph Parker in New Zealand and lost by unanimous decision. Takam was the dominant fighter, but Parker’s upper-body speed and defensive maneuverability earned him the favor of the judges.
Having battled both heavyweight world champions, Carlos Takam was sought to comment on the upcoming rumble in Wales. The very well-spoken 37-year-old French-Cameroonian sees a gulf of difference in styles between the two boxers. Takam fought valiantly against both, sees them both as very good boxers, but ultimately sees this fight as a contest between Joshua’s strength and Parker’s speed, per Newshub New Zealand. While Takam says that we’ll have to wait and see what happens, people have already seen the overwhelming favorite as Joshua. As of March 13, Parker is at +600 to win the fight, and Joshua has odds of +225 to win in rounds four to six with Betway. With Parker at 6’4’’ to Joshua’s 6’6’’ added to the Englishman’s six extra inches of reach, people see the strength beating the speed in this clash. But, when it comes down to it, speed can win boxing matches, just look at the classic bout between Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in Zaire, 1974. In the Rumble in the Jungle, Ali defended on the ropes, moved around the ring, let Foreman tire and caught him on the counter many times. Eventually, Ali moved onto the front foot to take the fight by knockout in the eighth round. But, Parker is yet to prove himself possess the skill set and caliber of Ali – and likely never will.
Can Parker overcome Joshua?
Every scrap of boxing knowledge points to Parker losing to Joshua by knockout. However, does bring this element of fleet-footedness and defensive speed that Joshua hasn’t faced in a professional fight. Most of his opponents have either tried to push him, go toe-to-toe, or simply crumble under his power. Wladimir Klitschko sought to control Joshua – and he did for the most part – Dillian Whyte was too aggressive, Charles Martin stood up tall but couldn’t avoid Joshua, and Carlos Takam came up on the inside and absorbed every thump that was dealt. Parker jostling around the ring and landing some well-timed counters could tire the 20-0-0 unified world champion and provide an opening to topple the British giant.
However, given the class of opponent that Joshua has defeated compared to Parker as well as the way that Joshua utterly proved his guile against Klitschko, few are worried about Joshua’s ability to come out of this fight on top. He’s proven that he can take heavy hits and even show the skill to know when to take time to recover and work his way back into a bout. Then, on top of this, Joshua’s thunderous power will have a say. Joshua stalks his prey, giving them doses of his power early on before he pounces with almighty combinations to grind them into the ropes.
Six wins from Parker’s 24-0-0 record have come via decision, so he knows how to go the distance and impress the judges while doing so. But Anthony Joshua is a completely different beast to what the New Zealander has faced before. It seems very unlikely that Joshua will allow the fight to go 12 rounds, so Parker will have to dance his way there himself, if not achieve a seemingly unlikely knockout.
