TALK of a potential fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder is sailing right over the head of Joseph Parker.
This Saturday (December 23) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Joshua and Wilder have separate pieces of business to take care of and the hope, should they both come away unscathed, is that they will then fight each other in the first quarter of 2024.
However, Joseph Parker, the man Wilder will be up against, not only knows the dangers of looking too far ahead, but says he understands exactly what he has to do to scupper next year’s plan.
“No, I feel that in boxing, even if fights are made, there’s always talks behind the scenes about other fights and other matchups,” Parker, 31, told Boxing News. “It is what it is. I know what I want to do. I want to go in there on fight night and smash him. And the only way to get the win is to go in there and smash him and get my hand raised. So, I’m just focused on that. Everyone else can say what they want to say and other fights can be planned but I’m just focused on what I have to do.”
Of course, the primary concern for Parker ahead of Saturday will be the devastating power Wilder possesses. By any estimation a 98 per cent knockout ratio is a frightening statistic and Wilder, despite being unable to defeat Tyson Fury in three attempts, still managed to drop his opponent four times during their trilogy.
Parker, though, says ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has other attributes as well.
“He can box,” he said. “Both hands are powerful, not only his right hand.
“I just have to be in there focused on what I have to do and not worry about this. The right hand’s always going to be there. I’m going to be in this fight very confident and I’m going to be picking my shots; good movement, good speed, combinations. Bring everything that I’ve been doing in training and put it on display on fight night.”
