Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker preview: Spirit and strength will decide historic heavyweight contest

Steve Bunce’s boxing preview: It will be the Joshua spirit and strength that finally decides the outcome of a fight that will live for a long time in the memory of those who sit in witness

Anthony Joshua is the overwhelming favourite to win on Saturday night (Independent)

They will gather for butchery in Cardiff on Saturday night, 78,000 people holding electric candles as they welcome Anthony Joshua to his familiar fighting pit in the ring.

In the opposite corner will be Joseph Parker surrounded by two Samoan gentlemen in their pot-bellied, topless glory, each waiting to turn their eyes and tongues into twirling demons with a violent haka in a vain attempt to unsettle Joshua.

Both boxers are unbeaten, each hold versions of the world heavyweight title and that means they have, right now, no idea how to suffer a loss, which has traditionally been a sweet element in the construction of truly memorable heavyweight fights. All unbeaten fighters are dangerous, two together, millions at stake, a sparkling wall of people wielding their lit phones, a roof creating a booming echo with each punch and there is every chance it will be truly special once the first bell sounds.

Follow LIVE coverage of the fight this evening.

“I will go at him,” promised Parker last week. “I know I will get to him, I know I will get the knockout.” Parker has stopped 18 of his 24 victims, but insists elbow surgery last November to remove some painful tissue from both has restored his seemingly diminished power; Parker’s last three fights went the full twelve, Joshua has never been twelve rounds.

“I know he will not run away,” countered Joshua. “He will fight, he will have to fight and that is when I will get to him.” There is a gentle arrogance, that boxing commodity that slips across the thinnest of lines from confidence, in the Joshua business; he has no fear of Parker and that is always a disturbing marker when it pops up in the careers of unbeaten boxers.

However, Joshua could get knocked out in Cardiff in his 21st fight and not suffer in any way other than the assault on his pride, which might not be as shattering as some people imagine. Boxing, remember, is a sport that can never guarantee its fighters will not get hurt, remain unbeaten and live happily ever after. Fairy-tales happen in our fight game but not without years of suffering and heartache: Joshua and Parker have not yet been anywhere near the darkness.

Joshua knows this and told me last week in a private moment away from the sound bites: “People forget that you have to share your struggles and not just your successes.” He is confident or arrogant, or whatever you want to call it, but he also knows he can lose, lose just like all the great heavyweights have done before him.

Joshua is older, bigger, stronger and hits harder. He is also slower and will need to be patient in the ring, any hefty lumbering will suit Parker. Joshua weighed just 17st 4lbs yesterday, not his lightest ever but twelve pounds lower than he weighed for last October’s title defence against Carlos Takam, the static target who was more plodder than comet. Parker needs a slower Joshua for his speed to be a factor and any attempt at grappling will not end well for the New Zealander.

Parker also revealed a few things once he had stripped for the ceremonial process at the weigh-in when he was just 16st 12lbs, his lightest in five fights. Parker had promised a trimmer version and he delivered, coming in a vital nine pounds less than he was for his last defence when he failed to shine in beating Hughie Fury, cousin of the still exiled Tyson Fury, in Manchester last September.

As a true sign of intent their weights clearly show just how serious this fight is to each of them; win and the glories continue, lose and there will be an attempt at a rare rematch. If Parker loses he will not get a rematch. The loser does not get the fight with the American Deontay Wilder, the WBC champion with a record of 40 wins, 39 by knockout - that gift is for the winner only. Joshua, however, is not desperate for a Wilder fight, instead he is seriously and sensibly looking at all options.

This is the lightest Anthony Joshua has been since 2014 (Getty)

Once the haka boys and Joshua’s handlers have left the ring to grab coveted spaces at ringside, the fight will start with a lot of care from both and that could continue as they each try to avoid taking any risks. They have both in private and public moments talked of it going long, of there being a lot of technical rounds and possibly it even going the full length and then falling into the laps of the three judges at ringside.

That could happen, certainly, but I keep seeing Joshua’s power and strength when I close my eyes in the dark to try and visualise the fight. At the same time I have sat in seclusion with a bright-eyed Parker, delved below his humour and heard his honesty, accepted his thinking and believe he can win. A belief that Parker can win and has a chance to ruin the bookies, puts me in a tiny group on Saturday night - I know that.

It will be the Joshua spirit and strength that finally decides the outcome of a fight that will live for a long time in the memory of those who sit in witness. It will never be easy, never be simple but the crowd will get their butchery and that is what they expect from Joshua. Both will exit the night as better fighters, one will remain unbeaten and that will be Joshua.