ANTHONY JOSHUA denies taking steroids in response to Joseph Parkerโs accusation ahead of their heavyweight unification fight that he uses performance-enhancing drugs.
The unbeaten rivals clash at Cardiffโs Principality Stadium on March 31 when Joshuaโs IBF and WBA belts will be at stake against the WBO crown held by Parker.
โ Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) January 14, 2018
In a radio interview given in his native New Zealand on Monday, Parker called his opponent the โking of steroidsโ, adding โif you are that big and that muscly, thereโs something wrongโ and โthere are a lot of ways you can dodge drug testingโ.
The claim, which has since been withdrawn by Parker and his promoter David Higgins, was rejected by Joshua at the London press conference staged on Tuesday to officially announce the fight.
โIโve heard so much in boxing trash talk that nothingโs new any more. Itโs a fairly serious charge to make. Can I sue Parker?! No, Iโm joking,โ Joshua said.
โI know my records are clean. Every time Iโm tested, and I know what Iโve paid to be voluntarily tested. Thatโs why I donโt bite at what he says.
FACE OFF | @anthonyfjoshua vs @joeboxerparker #JoshuaParker pic.twitter.com/HgHuNgH9cV
โ Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 16, 2018
โIf Iโm not clean, youโll find out during this fight. If I havenโt been clean for all my other fights, youโll see me struggle against Parker because anything I have been taking will be out of my system.
โYouโll find out in this fight whether Iโm the super-human or Iโve got something pushing on this super-human power that he claims I have.โ
When the issue of Tyson Furyโs back-dated ban for drug-taking was raised, Joshua stressed that the implications of using steroids in boxing extend beyond the ethical.
The British rivals are on a collision course if Fury is granted a boxing licence and makes a successful comeback having served the retrospective suspension issued by UK Anti-Doping and dispelled more than two years of inactivity.
Can’t wait to get back in the ring in late April really looking forward to the challenge, being away has made me very keen.! @MTKGlobal @parisfury1 pic.twitter.com/q5Pfn7U56A
โ TYSON2FASTFURY (@Tyson_Fury) January 8, 2018
โIf it was me Iโd get a lot more stick. Furyโs lucky. Itโs not good because in this sport your life is on the line,โ Joshua said.
โAnything to do with that type of stuff you have to be careful. Peopleโs lives are on the line.
โItโs not like a game of golf where itโs just the minds. This is physical and thereโs real damage. Itโs a shame people get caught up in that kind of stuff.โ
Parker, who has won all 24 of his fights and amassed 18 knockouts, adopted a far more diplomatic tone when meeting Joshua for the first time on Tuesday.
Sweat up before the presser pic.twitter.com/37sGhIVu8t
โ Joseph Parker (@joeboxerparker) January 16, 2018
Instead, Higgins took on the role of antagonist by leaping on Joshuaโs knockdowns as an amateur and by Wladimir Klitschko as evidence he is vulnerable, adding that the 28-year-old from Watford has โmental weaknessesโ.
โDo you know what I learned when I was dropped in the Klitschko fight? That it will take more than a human stop me from getting where Iโm destined to be,โ Joshua said.
โIโve learned not to walk with sight on this journey, but with faith. The rumours that you have heard are fake news, hand on heart. Iโve learned from adversity and through going through the storm.
โIโm not into the verbals. Iโd fight him in the car park for free, it doesnโt matter to me. Thatโs what a fighterโs mindset is.โ