Johnny Nelson: Wilder Dropped Ball, Should Have Been in Cardiff

Anthony Joshua is a man in a hurry as he looks to unify the heavyweight division.

He needed to get through the longest fight of his career to collect the third of the big four belts, though.

The British fighter was taken the distance for the first time in his professional career against Joseph Parker on Saturday, beating the previously undefeated New Zealander in a unanimous decision in front of 78,000 fans in Cardiff.

Renowned for his destructive punching power, Joshua showed another side to his boxing repertoire against Parker, whose movement, fast hands and counter-attacking ability made him a tricky opponent.

The jab was the key for Joshua against an often-retreating opponent. He barely landed a clean shot with his big right hand but he didn’t need to, despite the clamor from the crowd — and his mother watching from home.

It was Joshua’s 21st straight win and he added Parker’s WBO belt to his WBA, IBO and IBF titles.

Still, Joshua struggled to raise a smile.

And that only means one thing: Becoming undisputed champion by beating big-punching Deontay Wilder, the WBC champion.

“I think 2018 was always a time to capture all the belts,” Joshua said. “We are one away now.”

Wilder was going to be ringside for the contest as part of the Sky Sports broadcast team, but changed his mind on making the trip after Joshua publicly rejected his request to enter the ring in the aftermath of the Parker fight.

Former world champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson believes Wilder made a huge mistake by not being there at ringside.

“Deontay Wilder dropped the ball tonight, he should have been here,” Nelson said on Sky Sports.

“Somehow he’ll be justifying in his head it was a smart move. It’s the dumbest he’s made as an individual fighter.

“Forget the management, forget the promotion team. Wilder should have been here ringside. He should have been the one that people are talking about right now.”