Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker: AJ expects New Zealander to 'fade' in round 'eight or nine' of unification bout

The IBF and WBA heavyweight champion has revealed he has previous when it comes to predicting fight results, especially with regards to his own bouts

Anthony Joshua correctly predicted Dillian Whyte's sixth-round stoppage of Lucas Browne at the weekend (Getty)

Having pocketed £650 by correctly predicting Dillian Whyte’s sixth-round stoppage of Lucas Browne at the weekend, budding tipster Anthony Joshua has now revealed the round in which he expects Joseph Parker to fall in their anticipated unification clash on Saturday.

Joshua, who could earn around £20m for his part in the clash at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, had £25 at 25/1 that his old rival would put an end to the previously undefeated Australian before the fight’s half way mark.

Now the IBF and WBA heavyweight champion has revealed he has previous when it comes to getting things right, especially when predicting his own career.

“I won a cheeky £650 – I was buzzing,” Joshua said. “And do you know what’s interesting. For my last four fights, I’ve been exactly on, or a round out.

“So what’s the pick for Saturday? Now it’s on my mind I have to match my good record but I’m no Muhammad Ali [when it comes to predicting fights].

“One thing I used to think was, when you say it’s going four rounds and you’re opponent is still in there in round eight and you’re thinking...’oh no’.

“Before Carlos Takam I said 10 rounds, I said I’d beat him in ten rounds and I did. I always say, mentally, I’m ready to go 12 rounds. But, if everything goes to plan I think people fade between round eight and nine.

“I think Parker will fade around eight or nine.”

Joshua was speaking at Tuesday’s final press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash, which is the first ever meeting of two undefeated world heavyweight champions on British soil.

But there is a sense that the Londoner has been here before and his showdown with Parker will be the third time running he has boxed at a stadium.

Before his win over Takam at the Principality in November, Joshua faced the great Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley and added to his burgeoning reputation as the face of world boxing by winning via an 11th round stoppage.

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker go head to head this weekend (Getty)

The Ukrainian icon had stitched a USB stick into his fight robe that apparently contained his personal prediction for the fight. He revealed at the pre-fight press conference, which also took place here at Sky HQ in suburban London, that he would auction the robe for charity.

In December, the robe and the USB fetched £160,000 at auction but Joshua says even he considered a bid of his own.

“I think he was going to do the final edit after the fight,” Joshua added.

“It was a big fight for him and I believe he did have the USB. It auctioned off for a lot of money. £160,000? My Auntie called me a week later, ‘I’ve got this flag from the Olympics, I was thinking about auctioning it off?’ I was cracking up.

“I didn’t bid for it [the USB]. I said the limit was ten grand, and then I saw it go for £160,000. I thought ten would be a enough, thought I could be the silent bidder.”

Joshua said he considered bidding for Klitschko’s USB stick which apparently contained his personal prediction for the fight (Getty Images)

Parker, the undefeated WBO champion, has seemed totally unperturbed by the scale of the event since arriving in London last week. He even returned for a second face-off with Joshua at the traditional post-press conference stare down.

But Joshua says he learned a lot about how to handle himself in the face off as a result of his dealings with Klitschko 11 months back.

“During the face off I just went back to when I fought Klitschko,” Joshua said.

“When I was facing off with him, he was saying: ‘Okay, we have done this before and we turn to the front in five, four, three, two..’

“I thought: ‘This motherfucker is experienced!’ That was all about control, he was trying to old-man me a bit. I thought I could look at Parker for 10 minutes, but I decided no.

“When I was facing him off, it is about showing no fear but at the same time I thought, ‘How long will I stand here for?’”

Klitschko had spoken in the build-up to their clash of an obsession for winning but Joshua describes his relationship with boxing as something else.

“It’s not so much an obsession – it’s just life,” said Joshua who is 20-0 with 20 wins inside the distance.

“I didn’t choose a career path after college or go to uni – I chose boxing. It’s just my career. It’s a challenge to myself isn’t it? How far can I go?

“Is it an addiction? Yeah. It’s a fun addiction though. It’s a challenging addiction but it’s fun. I still enjoy it too.

Joshua called boxing an addiction (Getty)

“What’s challenging? Finding ways to improve and new ways to get better. I chat to Jonathon Banks a lot from back when I trained with Klitschko. I use the conversations as a way to speak to Klitschko.

“How did he forever want to improve? I ask these questions. He told me they worked a lot on his jab and his movement before the fight with me. It’s humbling to know that he got beat a few times and managed to come back.

“But I just think there is no room for mistakes anymore in this day in age. Why do I enjoy it? Because I want to be the best me. Even in these good times when I’m winning we’re not satisfied.”

Sky Sports Box Office will exclusively show the Anthony Joshua v Joseph Parker unification fight on 31 March. Available to buy now at www.sky.com/orderboxoffice.