Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker: What time does the fight start, what TV channel is it on, when are the ring walks?
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Your support makes all the difference.Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker will go head-to-head in one of the biggest heavyweight match-ups in recent memory when they collide this Saturday night.
Joshua will put his WBA, IBF and IBO world titles on the line when he takes on Parker at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, as he looks to add the Kiwi’s WBO strap to his growing collection.
The fight marks the first time in boxing history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain, and the first time ever that two reigning heavyweight world champions with flawless professional records have met in the ring.
There has been a lot of pre-fight noise from the Parker camp, with his promoter David Higgins repeatedly making reference to Joshua’s weak chin, something the British world champion has angrily refuted.
The bookmakers certainly do not agree with Higgins’ analysis of the contest, with every leading bookmaker instating Joshua as the comfortable favourite to win the fight.
For the first time in his career Parker, who like Joshua has never tasted defeat, enters a fight as the rank outsider.
Follow LIVE coverage of the fight this evening.
Here’s everything you need to know about the contest.
When is the fight?
The fight takes place on Saturday 31 March.
What time will the ringwalks be?
We are still waiting on official ringwalk timings, but it is likely the pair will enter the ring around 10pm.
Where is the fight?
The fight takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Joshua last fought there late last year, when he stopped the late-replacement Carlos Takam in the tenth round of their heavyweight title fight.
Are there any tickets left to buy?
Spare tickets are still floating around on StubHub.
What TV channel will the fight be on?
The fight will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The fight will cost £19.95 to watch through Sky – unless you leave your telephone booking until the day of the fight, in which case the cost rises to £24.95. Online and remote control bookings remain at £19.95.
Who’s on the undercard?
- Alexander Povetkin vs David Price (WBA and WBO heavyweight inter-continental and international)
- Ryan Burnett vs Yonfrez Parejo (WBA bantamweight)
- Joe Cordina vs Andy Townend (vacant WBA lightweight)
- Josh Kelly vs Carlos Molina (vacant WBA international welterweight)
- Morgan Jones vs Mose Auimatagi Jr (super middleweight)
What happened at the first press conference?
Anthony Joshua said that it will take a superhuman effort for Joseph Parker to stop him from becoming undisputed world heayweight champion.
Parker's promoter David Higgins brought up Joshua's 'weak chin' during Tuesday's London press conference, something he admitted as a ploy to land the mouth-watering clash, but the Briton does not believe it will be a factor in the bout.
Joshua said: “It will take more than a human to stop me from where I am destined to be.
“That's why I learned to not walk with sight, I walk with faith in this journey so in terms of you, using it as a PR stunt and the rumours you have heard, they are fake news.
“Three times I've been hurt or stopped. What I have learned from those adversities and storms, it will take more than any human to stop me from this journey."
The 28-year-old Briton has won all 20 of his professional bouts inside the distance and showed respect to his next opponent, who is unbeaten in his 24-fight career.
Joshua added: “It is 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 and what's been going on but I take everything with a pinch of salt and I roll with the punches.
“I'll be in peak physical condition but I'm making sure my mind is in the right place as well, at all times.
“So I'm looking forward to embracing the challenge, not just from a physical stand point but the mental challenge that will come from this fight as well."
Parker was in no doubt that the upcoming clash would be the most difficult of his career, but he anticipates that he will be taking three major world titles back to New Zealand.
The New Zealander said: “It's an exciting time to be a heavyweight. This is going to be the hardest camp and most work as I have a big challenge in front of me in Joshua.
“I've watched him for a long time. I know his strengths, he know mine. I know his weaknesses and he thinks he knows my weaknesses.
“I can't wait to have this fight happen on March 31. I can't wait to put on a great performance, hopefully I will catch him on the chin and knock him out.”
What is Joshua’s professional record?
What is Parker’s professional record?
Parker boasts a professional record of 24-0, with 18 of his victories coming by way of knockout.
He last fought in September 2017, out-pointing Britain’s Hughie Fury to retain his WBO heavyweight title. He also fought Takam in May 2016, again winning on points.
What are the odds?
- Joshua to win: 1/12
- Parker to win: 6/1
- Draw: 40/1
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