Anthony Joshua will put his titles on the line to take on Joseph Parker on March 31st. The winner is highly likely to go on to a unification fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
Britain’s Anthony Joshua and New Zealand’s Joseph Parker will face-off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on March 31 in a three-belt unification of the heavyweight boxing division.
The pair will be putting their belts on the line, as well as their unbeaten records.
Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he is keen to unify the heavyweight division in 2018, but New Zealand’s first heavyweight champion, Parker, has never been floored in his 24-0 professional fights and will not be fazed by fighting in the UK as he last defended his belt by outpointing Hughie Fury, cousin of former world champion Tyson Fury, in Manchester in September 2017. A bout that saw both fighters use the Cleto Reyes boxing glove.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has spoken publicly about The Champion’s plans for 2018:
“We need these belts, there is no secret, and they know that as well. Joshua’s pure aim is to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. To do that he has to beat Parker and Wilder.
The Wilder fight is in dreamland at the moment, with his demands. Hopefully, we can get that over the line, pick up the title against Parker in March, and then move on for the big one against Wilder when all the belts are on the line.”
The WBC champion Deontay Wilder will also be fighting in March, on the 3rd, against Luis Ortiz in Brooklyn. He’s already looking beyond this fight and also has unification in his sights:
“This is the build-up and the lead-up to the mega-fight, the unification bout. One man will have all of the belts, once and for all. It’s like a tournament. May the best man win. The best two will come together for one special night, one special moment, for the world to see.
I will be the one champion. There will be one face, one name, and his name is Deontay Wilder. I promise you that.”
Joshua is the clear favourite to overcome Parker with bookmakers, they’re offering paltry odds-on of 1/20 for Joshua to win and just 3/1 to knock Parker out within three rounds.
