Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker press conference LIVE: Watch and follow updates ahead of world title fight
Watch live as Joseph and Parker come face-to-face for the first time
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.World heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker will come face to face for the very first time this morning, and you can watch coverage of their press conference live on The Independent.
Joshua hopes to move one step closer to his goal of being the undisputed world heavyweight champion when he takes on Parker in Cardiff on March 31.
He currently holds the WBA and IBF versions of the world heavyweight title after stopping Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium, and will add Parker’s WBO bauble to his collection if he becomes the first ever man to beat the New Zealander.
After that, the WBC champion Deontay Wilder surely awaits.
Joshua’s fight with Parker is eagerly anticipated, and the contest marks the first time in boxing history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain.
“It’s a classic match‑up between two young, fast, undefeated belt holders, and it’s going to be an explosive fight,” promised Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, earlier this week.
Watch the press conference above and follow updates with our live blog below.
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.
Joseph Parker speaks
“It’s great to be back in London, I love the food and the people.
“It’s an exciting time to be a heavyweight. I’m thankful we have the contract signed. I’m looking forward to leaving here and getting back to Vegas and starting a training camp – it’s going to be my hardest ever.
“Joshua is a hard challenge. I’ve watched him for a long time and I know he’s watched me. I know his weaknesses and he thinks he knows mine. Hopefully I’ll catch him on the chin and knock him out.”
And now Anthony Joshua
“It’s good to be back. I took my time last time out, but I got the win which is the most important thing. Now it’s about making history. It’s an honour to be up here with another world champion.
“I don’t know how to take his camp in terms of what’s been said. I take it with a pinch of salt. It’s for another strap and I know he’ll be working hard.
“One thing that separates me is I mix intelligence with hard work. I’m making sure my mind is in the right place because it will be a mental challenge.”
David Higgins
“Thank you to AJ for stepping up. AJ and Eddie have stepped up and made this unification happy which is great for the sport and the fans.
“It’s important for me to clarify a few things. I have an immense amount of respect for Joshua. He has turned his life around and is a great role model. We respect that and respect his achievements. And we respect even more that he is stepping in with Parker.
“But you have to analyse strengths and weaknesses. Something that shocked us is that that’s not customary in English boxing. So we were surprised when we pointed out chinks in Joshua’s armour. It’s not personal, it’s business.
“We showed a few knockdowns and that caught us some attention. Incidentally, Parker has never been knocked down, since he started boxing at the age of three.”
Joshua interrupts
“I’ve used being dropped as a marketing strategy.”
He then goes on to explain in detail why he was dropped on three previous occasions – blaming the first two on a lack of preparation and his brushes with the law.
Joshua blames the ‘Glass Jaw Joshua’ talk on ‘fake news’. He’s clearly rattled!
Back to Higgins
“This is a 50/50 fight. It’s closer than people think.”
Joseph Parker’s trainer, Kevin Barry
He’s very complimentary of Joshua and draws comparisons between this fight and Joshua vs Klitschko.
“Joshua learnt things about himself in that fight. It was one of the fights of the year. Parker has not had a career defining fight like that.
“But if shows the public what I see in the gym, he will be very difficult to beat.”
Rob McCracken
“The European Championships and Price knockouts were around seven years ago. He was a novice. That’s why it has riled him. It’s fake news as he said. None of the other rumours are true. Getting into the ring with him is different.
“The Klitschko fight was 2-3 years early but that’s who he is. He’s different to most fighters, he’ll do it in half the time it usually takes. He’s very professional and doesn’t like the trash talking but he’s a smart guy. He’ll take him seriously.
“Parker is a good fighter but has done well to win his WBO title belt. Joshua is different. We believe he’ll struggle badly.”
And now for questions
To Parker, do you have what it takes to fight Joshua?
“I’ve been studying him for a long time. I feel he is a good fighter with a lot of support. He does a lot of good things and some not so good things. But it is my time to put up a great challenge. I truly think I am going to win.”
What do you do better?
“I have better speed. I have better movement.”
Thoughts about the trash talk?
“We’re a team. I back my promoter and what he has been saying. This is how he’s trying to promote the fight.”
Some sparring between Hearn and Higgins now. Hearn invites Higgins to tell Joshua face to face that he has a glass jaw. He declines. Shock.
Questions for Joshua.
Is he riled?
“It is what he is. First the verbal wars before the physical one. I’m not really into the verbals, I’d fight him in the car park for free – that’s the fighters mindset. I just want to fight.
“I’m motivated and ready for a massive 2018. I don’t want to demonise Parker and say he’s rubbish, because he’s phenomenal. As champions we should hold our achievements in high esteem. The trash talking should still involve some respect.”
How does he rate him?
“He’s done very well. I like to study but I’m more interested in how I am developing. What I learnt from the amateurs is that I watched everyone and watching when you’re not there is not the same. I haven’t studied him diligently, but I will study him in my training camp.
“The focus is to win. I don’t know what his strengths and weaknesses will be. They will change.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments