Heavyweight gold is on the line this weekend in a major boxing unification fight featuring two of the sport’s hottest young Heavyweights.
This weekend, boxing’s marquee fight is a major event as IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua (20-0; 20 KOs) faces WBO champion Joseph Parker (24-0; 18 KOs). Winner walks away with all major titles outside of Deontay Wilder’s WBC belt, while the loser walks away with his first L. Joshua is considered the sport’s #1 Heavyweight by Ring Magazine while Parker is #3. The fight takes place this Saturday, March 31 in Cardiff, Wales and airs live on Showtime with a fight time of 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Joshua: 28 years old | 6’6” | 82″ reach | orthodox stance
Parker: 26 years old | 6’4″ | 78″ reach | orthodox stance
What have these two done recently?
Joshua: W – Carlos Takam (TKO) | W – Wladimir Klitschko (TKO) | W – Eric Molina (TKO)
Parker: W – Hughie Fury (MD) | W – Razvan Cojanu (UD) | W – Andy Ruiz (MD)
How did these two get here?
With Floyd Mayweather retired, if you wanted to argue that Joshua was the most popular fighter in boxing you would certainly have a case. The 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist has been the great hope for British Heavyweight boxing since his debut in 2013, and he’s absolutely lived up to those expectations, with a flawless record. He had a major test last year against Wladimir Klitschko, and he got off the mat to put Klitschko away in the Fight of the Year and the best Heavyweight title fight in many, many years. Amazingly, he also looks like he wants to be fighting the actual top talents out there. He is bringing the spark to Heavyweight that has been missing for so long, and it’s amazing to watch.
Where Joshua is the young fighter representing the hopes of England, Parker is the young fighter representing the hopes of New Zealand. Parker has been a pro since 2012 and started picking up steam on the international scene in the past 3 years. He won Tyson Fury’s vacant WBO title in 2016, and has defended it twice. Like Joshua, he’s a world champion and he’s undefeated, but his path to this point is quite different. Where Joshua has been shining under the increased expectations, Parker has seemed to be just getting by. He’s gone the distance in his last 3, often scraping by with wins he really shouldn’t have to struggle for. He’s a legit top 5 Heavyweight, but he’s also taking a big step here.
What can fans expect?
There’s no doubt Joshua is the more well-rounded fighter, with more to his game – this should be his fight to win. Both men have power, but they aren’t the kind of wild one punch guys you see in Deontay Wilder. Parker’s best tool is his jab and his movement, but I’m not convinced he’s better than Joshua in either of those areas. It seems unlikely Parker can get the KO here, so he’ll need to outpoint Joshua and take him to the cards (and in Wales, to win on the cards he likely will have to REALLY outpoint him). That all seems like far too big a mountain to climb for Parker.
Prediction: Anthony Joshua, KO
Who should watch?
Everyone. Not only is it a great fight, but Joshua fights now feel like big events. This is not one to miss.