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Strengths and weaknesses of Joshua and Parker...
Lets have a look at both fighters, what their best chances of winning will be, and how the fight might play out.
I wanted to wait until after the open-workouts to form my opinion, but neither fighter showed me much, therefore nothing to gain from that apart from they both looked in good shape.
I believe Parker's best attributes are his jab, hand-speed & combinations, foot work/speed and his ability to fight multiple styles - back foot, front foot, inside, outside etc. He has shown his stamina in his last few fights and we know he can finish strongly. I believe he has all the skills needed at world level, but he needs to make that step and really execute them all well now. I admit he has not looked as good as Joshua recently, but every 26 year old fighter is still learning, and I believe Parker is ready now, and Joshua is not the finished article either.
His jab is underrated and underused (might be because of the elbows if you believe that) but I've seen it early in his career and in glimpses recently and know it's there, he can double or triple that up real quick even while moving laterally, which he will need to be doing to take away Joshua's own jab and counter right. He also has a great right-cross, which he can throw from angles, mid-range, or inside and while going backwards if pressured. I believe Parker has the advantage of speed, jab, movement and stamina in this fight and that will be key.
His defence on the back foot is a glaring weakness, he's been bailed out by his chin a few times and that is Parker's main weakness, he's almost too calm under fire and forgets to keep his hands up sometimes, if he does that with Joshua moving in on him he will get caught with a right hand and stopped.
I believe Parker sometimes fights within himself as well, doesn't get out of second gear and is happy to box on the outside against smaller fighters and throw little. I can understand the pressure of the Ruiz fight and playing it safe to get his shot at AJ, hopefully he is a lot more busy and pro-active in this one as I believe he has nothing to lose, he's got the fight he wanted, and I believe having Joshua in there with him will bring the best out of Parker.
Joshua's strengths are obvious, but so are his weaknesses, the question is if Parker has the movement needed to beat Joshua??? one bad mistake and he's out! There's also the size and reach advantage for Joshua. He needs a perfect gameplan and to make little mistakes in this fight, the performance of his career, I'm not delusional like some believe.
Joshua has probably the most effective style in the HW division right now, he does the basics very well, and his sheer size and power (and even his underrated speed) make him, I believe, the most dangerous HW out there. His jab isn't the best certainly, but sufficient to keep guys at bay, his counter-straight right is probably the thing he looks for most, he wants you to throw at him, stand in front and trade so he can time you with that, and the left hook and uppercut is enough to make any one think twice about standing in the pocket with him, he'll flush guys out with those shots, only a skilled inside fighter would try it.
His weaknesses are his foot work/speed and his lack of agility, he's far too upright, can't bend at the waist or move his head much. He's never went 12 rounds without gassing in a fight and has not shown a very good back foot or inside game.... YET! it might be there, but his other attributes, Size, power, reach, jab, right etc have forced other guys back foot and kept them from getting inside.
So, how do I see the fight playing out?
I think both fighters will come out and be cautious early, as they always are. Parker will be moving laterally around the ring, standing side-on to Joshua, feinting and will get behind the jab, I believe Parker wins the battle of the jab and will win a few tight rounds. I think Joshua will have trouble landing the right hand due to the movement of Parker, coupled with head movement and ability of Parker to bend at the waist to avoid punches (lol). For Parker to win he has to make that right miss, when it goes past the head like what happened against Klitschko a few times, Parker has to be quick and get his combinations off as they separate. Whenever they tie-up, I believe Parker is good enough to land shots inside and get out quickly, even just work the body.
I see a good fight after the first couple rounds, Joshua will be forced to be aggressive and Parker will try to take Joshua deep by being calm and making Joshua miss, Joshua will win the mid fight IMO. Parker has to weather this storm obviously and do enough to tire out Joshua. I see Parker taking over after the 8th round if he does and coming back with stiff combinations. This will come down to who has the better will, chin and who has taken the most damage, but Parker always finishes strong, and I think he is fit enough and tough enough to do it.
Parker will utilise his front foot and inside game when Joshua is tired and really pressure him, I think this will come down to fatigue as much as damage taken, but I see Parker stopping Joshua late rounds.
Parker walking a tight rope but I feel he is good enough to pull this off.
I hope by writing this I have made someone's bumhole twitch a little.
Parker to win in a war and FOTY contender! lets go! may the best man win!
I wanted to wait until after the open-workouts to form my opinion, but neither fighter showed me much, therefore nothing to gain from that apart from they both looked in good shape.
I believe Parker's best attributes are his jab, hand-speed & combinations, foot work/speed and his ability to fight multiple styles - back foot, front foot, inside, outside etc. He has shown his stamina in his last few fights and we know he can finish strongly. I believe he has all the skills needed at world level, but he needs to make that step and really execute them all well now. I admit he has not looked as good as Joshua recently, but every 26 year old fighter is still learning, and I believe Parker is ready now, and Joshua is not the finished article either.
His jab is underrated and underused (might be because of the elbows if you believe that) but I've seen it early in his career and in glimpses recently and know it's there, he can double or triple that up real quick even while moving laterally, which he will need to be doing to take away Joshua's own jab and counter right. He also has a great right-cross, which he can throw from angles, mid-range, or inside and while going backwards if pressured. I believe Parker has the advantage of speed, jab, movement and stamina in this fight and that will be key.
His defence on the back foot is a glaring weakness, he's been bailed out by his chin a few times and that is Parker's main weakness, he's almost too calm under fire and forgets to keep his hands up sometimes, if he does that with Joshua moving in on him he will get caught with a right hand and stopped.
I believe Parker sometimes fights within himself as well, doesn't get out of second gear and is happy to box on the outside against smaller fighters and throw little. I can understand the pressure of the Ruiz fight and playing it safe to get his shot at AJ, hopefully he is a lot more busy and pro-active in this one as I believe he has nothing to lose, he's got the fight he wanted, and I believe having Joshua in there with him will bring the best out of Parker.
Joshua's strengths are obvious, but so are his weaknesses, the question is if Parker has the movement needed to beat Joshua??? one bad mistake and he's out! There's also the size and reach advantage for Joshua. He needs a perfect gameplan and to make little mistakes in this fight, the performance of his career, I'm not delusional like some believe.
Joshua has probably the most effective style in the HW division right now, he does the basics very well, and his sheer size and power (and even his underrated speed) make him, I believe, the most dangerous HW out there. His jab isn't the best certainly, but sufficient to keep guys at bay, his counter-straight right is probably the thing he looks for most, he wants you to throw at him, stand in front and trade so he can time you with that, and the left hook and uppercut is enough to make any one think twice about standing in the pocket with him, he'll flush guys out with those shots, only a skilled inside fighter would try it.
His weaknesses are his foot work/speed and his lack of agility, he's far too upright, can't bend at the waist or move his head much. He's never went 12 rounds without gassing in a fight and has not shown a very good back foot or inside game.... YET! it might be there, but his other attributes, Size, power, reach, jab, right etc have forced other guys back foot and kept them from getting inside.
So, how do I see the fight playing out?
I think both fighters will come out and be cautious early, as they always are. Parker will be moving laterally around the ring, standing side-on to Joshua, feinting and will get behind the jab, I believe Parker wins the battle of the jab and will win a few tight rounds. I think Joshua will have trouble landing the right hand due to the movement of Parker, coupled with head movement and ability of Parker to bend at the waist to avoid punches (lol). For Parker to win he has to make that right miss, when it goes past the head like what happened against Klitschko a few times, Parker has to be quick and get his combinations off as they separate. Whenever they tie-up, I believe Parker is good enough to land shots inside and get out quickly, even just work the body.
I see a good fight after the first couple rounds, Joshua will be forced to be aggressive and Parker will try to take Joshua deep by being calm and making Joshua miss, Joshua will win the mid fight IMO. Parker has to weather this storm obviously and do enough to tire out Joshua. I see Parker taking over after the 8th round if he does and coming back with stiff combinations. This will come down to who has the better will, chin and who has taken the most damage, but Parker always finishes strong, and I think he is fit enough and tough enough to do it.
Parker will utilise his front foot and inside game when Joshua is tired and really pressure him, I think this will come down to fatigue as much as damage taken, but I see Parker stopping Joshua late rounds.
Parker walking a tight rope but I feel he is good enough to pull this off.
I hope by writing this I have made someone's bumhole twitch a little.
Parker to win in a war and FOTY contender! lets go! may the best man win!