Parker, Trainer Expect Much Better Joshua Than in Takam Fight

By Keith Idec

Joseph Parker and his trainer, Kevin Barry, have braced themselves for a very different Anthony Joshua than the Joshua that faced Carlos Takam in his previous fight.

Joshua stopped Cameroon’s Takam in the 10th round of their October 28 title fight at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The unbeaten British superstar wasn’t at his best that night, though, against a durable, rugged opponent that took their fight on just 12 days’ notice.

Parker prepared for a better, sharper Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), who’s an approximate 8-1 favorite in their heavyweight title unification match March 31 in Cardiff. Barry added that Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) also will perform better than he did during his last fight, a debatable majority-decision defeat of England’s Hughie Fury (20-1, 10 KOs) on September 23 in Manchester.

“I think the same would go for both camps,” Barry said on a conference. “I think if they’re looking at the Fury fight, we know that Joseph is a much better fighter than that. Fury was a very, very awkward opponent, an opponent that we wouldn’t have even been in the ring with if it wasn’t for our mandatory.

“Just looking at Joshua’s last fight with Carlos Takam, he really didn’t light the world on fire in that fight. And he left a lot of [question] marks about his performance. We’re expecting a lot better Joshua than the one that fought Carlos Takam. So the same could be said both ways.”

New Zealand’s Parker went the distance with Takam (35-4-1, 27 KOs) in May 2016. Parker won that 12-round bout by unanimous decision.

“We know Takam,” Barry said. “When Joe fought Takam, we had three months’ notice, not 12 days. And he was in the gym, training, and he prepared properly for three months. [Takam] wasn’t riding a bicycle around, like what he was before he fought Joshua. … We’re expecting a much, much better Joshua than the one that fought Carlos Takam. I would love to think that guy would enter the ring against Joe, because if he does, you know, we easily walk away with the belts.”

Joshua fought through a damaged nose after absorbing a head-butt against Takam. He was winning big on all three scorecards – 90-80, 89-81 and 89-81 – when referee Phil Edwards stepped in to prevent Takam from taking more punishment in the 10th round.

“I thought it wasn’t his best work,” Parker said, “but he did what he had to do to get the victory, you know? Maybe training for someone who was a lot taller [Kubrat Pulev], and fighting someone shorter, might’ve changed the way he approached the fight. But I think the main thing is that he got the victory and he kept the belts. That’s the reason why we can make this big fight happen.”

Joshua, 28, and Parker, 26, will fight for Joshua’s IBF, IBO and WBA titles and Parker’s WBO crown a week from Saturday night at Principality Stadium (Sky Sports Box Office; Showtime).

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.