SAN FRANCISCO, April 01, (THEWILL) – Anthony Joshua, the Nigerian-born British heavyweight star, has defeated Joseph Parker in the Principality Stadium on Saturday night to take his record as a professional to 21 victories from 21 fights.
Joshua who put his WBA and IBF titles on the line has now added the WBO’s strap to his two belts to unify the division in what is his third stadium fight in succession.
The 28-year-old now has WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles to his name, and a unification fight with Deontay Wilder is the only step stopping Joshua from being the first heavyweight to hold all four major belts up for collection.
The 2012 Olympic champion, taken to 12 rounds for the first time in his professional career after 20 previous knockouts, added Parker’s WBO belt to his own WBA Super, IBF and IBO titles.
The three judges scored it 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 to Joshua, leaving only Deontay Wilder’s WBC title still to conquer.
“Wilder. Let’s go baby, let’s go,” shouted Joshua from inside the ring to raucous cheers from the 78,000 crowd packing Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, also namechecking Tyson Fury as another possible opponent.
“Do I want to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world? IBO, WBO, IBF, WBA…I’m not into the hype, I’m about business. So let’s get the business done.
“Let’s see what the future holds, I’m down for whatever, whenever,” added the Briton, making clear he wanted Wilder to face him in Britain rather than Las Vegas.
“My strategy in there was to stick behind the jab,” said Joshua.
“It’s one of the most important weapons. The old saying is the right hand can take you around the block, but a good jab will take you around the world. And that secured me another world title belt,” he added.
“I know the bookies say I might get a knockout…but forget the hype, Joseph Parker is a world champion. So I knew he was going to be determined. So this does become a boxing match, not a fight.
“Joseph Parker stated this would be war, I stated this would be boxing finesse. I stuck to my word and I controlled it behind the jab, the counter-punches.”
Parker, the 26-year-old New Zealander, who had been led into the ring by Samoan chiefs under a barrage of strobe lights before Joshua walked in to the sound of ‘Paid in Full’ and ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, was gracious in defeat.
“Today I got beaten by a better champion, a bigger man,” he said.
“I’m going to come back stronger. No regrets, take it on the chin. Better man on the day.
“I would love to have another go.”
