ANTHONY JOSHUA and Joseph Parker meet for a major heavyweight fight to unify the IBF, WBA and WBO world titles at the Principality stadium in Cardiff on March 31. There is one man who has boxed both. Frazer Clarke, a super-heavyweight silver medallist at last yearโs European amateur championships, has taken on both Parker and Joshua in amateur bouts, before he became a GB team-mate and sparring partner for Joshua.
โI boxed Joseph Parker in 2009, 2010. That was in the Commonwealth Federations in Delhi, India. It was a real close one to be fair. He just nicked it. It was the points system, he won it by a couple of points, maybe one point. It was a really close, interesting fight. I watched it back a few weeks ago, with him obviously coming up to box Joshua, itโs interesting. I boxed Joshua either 2009, 2010 and I boxed Parker in the same year,โ Clarke told Boxing News.
Frazer gave his expert view. โI think Joshua wins really convincingly. Thatโs not bias, thatโs just honest opinion. I think Joseph Parker is good [but] I know Joshua is in great condition. Heโs in better condition now than heโs been going into any camp. Thatโs 100% the truth. I think it starts off a little bit cautious. I think Joshua takes him out inside four or five rounds. I think itโs an easier fight than [Carlos] Takam, I donโt think heโs as durable. Heโs quite good at attacking but I think heโs small for a heavyweight as well. Iโve stood next to him at the Hughie Fury fight and weigh in and stuff. I think Joshua is going to tower over him do an absolute job and look good doing it,โ Clarke said.
โLet me tell you now, thereโs having an iron chin and then thereโs getting hit by a combination off Anthony Joshua. Not one punch, his one-punch, concussive knockout power โ he has got that but we havenโt really seen that too often โ but what Iโm telling you is after Joshuaโs hit your four or five times on the chin, it hurts any man in the world, I donโt care who you are. His chin will well and truly be tested letโs put it that way.โ
Itโs strange to think that the men who Frazer boxed as amateurs have gone on to box in a multi-million pound heavyweight world title unification. โI donโt know if thatโs a good thing or a bad thing, it makes me feel terrible! Weโve all got different paths,โ he said.
โMy best years are yet to come Iโm sure,โ he continued. โIโve served my apprenticeship and when the time comes to turn pro Iโll be in good standing.โ
Don’t miss next week’s issue of Boxing News magazine for a full feature interview with GB super-heavyweight Frazer Clarke