ANTHONY JOSHUA believes he was right to err on the side of caution against Joseph Parker in his last bout after watching Dillian Whyteโs struggles against the New Zealander.
Joshua became the unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion when he defeated Parker by a landslide decision at the Principality Stadium in March.
There were minor grumbles that Joshua failed to stop an opponent for the first time in his professional career, despite extending his perfect record to 21-0.
Make sure youโre sitting comfortable September 22nd #AJBXNG pic.twitter.com/iZNuLI28UH
โ Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) September 12, 2018
But Joshua pointed to Parkerโs fight with Whyte in July, in which both combatants were knocked down before the Briton claimed a narrow points win, as proof that his game plan was correct in the Welsh capital.
โIf I didnโt win that Parker fight, I wouldnโt be here now,โ Joshua told Press Association Sport.
โIf I went to try and knock him out, anything could have happened.
โLook at the fight with Dillian and Parker! By an inch he got that decision and I donโt want fights like that. I want to win clear and make sure that it sets up bigger and better things.โ
Joshua will put his unbeaten record and three world titles on the line on September 22 against mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.
โHow I approach this fight is going to be completely different to how I approach the Parker fight because heโs a completely different style of fighter. But Iโm confident,โ Joshua added.
So, too, is Joshuaโs trainer Rob McCracken although he believes his charge will need to remain sharp against an opponent whose only loss in a 35-fight career was against Wladimir Klitschko in 2013.
โThe task at hand is really important, Anthonyโs got to be on point, heโs got to be concentrating and heโs got to be busy against Povetkin,โ McCracken told Press Association Sport.
๏ธ “I can’t afford to make any mistakes. I’m going to go in there and mix it up which sets up a big night in April” โ @anthonyfjoshua tells @SkySportsNews #JoshuaPovetkin pic.twitter.com/OUkfVVLZDT
โ Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 14, 2018
โAnthonyโs job is to control the pace and break him down and not be there for the hooks, the feints to the body and the right hook, and feints to the body and left hook.
โAnthonyโs got to be aware of that and alert to it every round for three minutes.
โHeโs got upper body movement, Povetkin, so youโve got to time him. Heโs not always there for the jab and the right hand and heโs always dangerous with his counters, you canโt just let him walk in, dictate and throw, youโve got to move and keep him off balance, as Klitschko did really well. Heโs a top fighter and a dangerous opponent.
โIt will be a tough challenge but one that Iโm sure Anthony will come through and Iโm sure heโll learn a bit more on the night.โ