According to Dr. Craig Ball, WBO heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker has recovered very well after undergoing secret elbow surgery ahead of his unification clash with Anthony Joshua.
Parker's trainer Kevin Barry revealed the boxer had been nursing pain and restriction in both elbows for more than two years.
"It was remarkable what he was able to do before he needed the operation, particularly with his boxing, given the findings that he had at the CT at the time of surgery," said Mr Ball. "I've been a professional orthopaedic shoulder and elbow specialist for over 15 years so this is very common surgery for me to do."
The doctor added - "A very unusual thing that I've observed is how quickly he was able to get better afterwards.
"Obviously the aim was to improve the range of motion but more importantly in my professional opinion, I think by losing that impingement pain that he would have, that will almost certainly give him a little bit more speed and probably power with his punch too because he's not having that pain limiting him every time he's trying to throw something."
The surgery has restored maximum speed and power for New Zealander Parker, whose WBO title is on the line in the 'Road to Undisputed' fight.
The stakes are high, with Joshua also fighting to retain his IBF, WBA Super and IBO heavyweight title in Cardiff on March 31.
Speaking to Sky Sports UK eight days out from the highly anticipated fight, Joshua said he is focused on the bout and is open to what a potential loss could mean for his career.
"In boxing, losing is the one thing you are nervous about," Joshua revealed to Sky Sports. "Nobody wants their '0' to go. You don't plan on getting beat - in every other sport you can lose and bounce back.
"[Roger] Federer is still known as a great, but we don't know the 10 people who have beat him before. For boxing, that loss stays on your record for eternity. Losing doesn't define you though; it's how you move forward that defines you. You have to know where you are going.
"When I look at heavyweight boxing, you look at [Wladimir] Klitschko, and he wanted to be a three-time heavyweight champion of the world, he lost and came back - If I lost, I'd dust myself off and go again. It would show people's mindset if they discredited everything I had done up until that point because of one defeat."
Asked, 'Is [losing] what scares you?' the 28-year-old heavyweight champion from Watford answered: "Yeah because it is the sport we are in."
