IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) admits that Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs), holder of the WBO world title, got under his skin after the numerous taunts about an alleged "glass jaw" and being called “the king of steroids.”
Joshua vs. Parker takes place on March 31 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
There was a lot of trash talking in the lead-up, with the bulk of it coming from Parker and his handlers.
Joshua claims Parker and his handlers have accused him of using performance enhancing drugs on more than one occasion.
When Parker made the statements, his own promoter David Higgins came out and tried to throw water on the situation - stating that he didn't agree with the statements.
“Three times it’s happened,” Joshua said to The Guardian. “If you want to use it as a PR stunt carry on using it as a PR stunt, but let’s just talk about facts if you want to talk real. It gets under my skin. If he’s better than me, quicker than me, tougher than me, it will take a lot to put me away because I won’t stop coming.”
Joshua says that not is he tested by UK Anti-Doping, he's also been tested by VADA [Voluntary Anti-Doping Association].
“I give them a slot and they can turn up anywhere, if I’m on holiday, at a hotel, at a club,” Joshua said. “I just text them and say I’m going to be here. You have to let them know. I normally give them the time when I’m going to be in the gym training for the opportunity.”
In his last bout, which takes place in October at Principality, Joshua stopped mandatory challenger Carlos Takam in the tenth round of action. On the other end, Parker was last seen in September, when he traveled over to Manchester and won a twelve round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Hughie Fury, who is the cousin of Tyson Fury.