As a Parker fan, I'm wavering

[keith_head]

Have I been duped by Parker/Barry/Higgins? Is he really at the elite level? I suppose in some respects we're always being duped by professional boxing, but what I mean is this:
- Parker is supposedly the more "skillful" - yet he didn't even qualify for the Olympics, whereas Joshua won gold, having out-competed his fellow countrymen in very tough competition to even qualify, yet alone win the gold against the world's best
- Are Parker's best wins - Takam, Ruiz and Hughie Fury - really all that great? Takam is the only real proven one out of all of them, and he was beaten up by Joshua, even if it was a dodgy stoppage. Ruiz Jr to me looks like a very, very skilful guy, but he hasn't fought since then...and to be honest it's 50/50 whether he beat Parker. Hughie Fury looks like he doesn't have the power to compete in heavyweight boxing.
- Why is Joshua's stamina in question when Parker arguably gased out in the middle rounds against Takam far worse than Joshua did?
- Parker's team have talked about how they were the ones that called out Joshua and wanted the fight - but it's easy to want the fight when you're fighting the cash cow of the division for a multi-million dollar payday.
- It's even easier to call out Joshua when Alexander Povetkin is about to become your mandatory. I'd much rather fight Joshua for millions than fight a dodgy cheat who has enough financial backing that he can consistently get away popping positive for PEDs.

[Madison Boxing]

never really rated him and can see him getting badly exposed tomorrow night.

[chrisJS]

He's solid but I thought he'd be better. Seems to have plateaued recently. I hope he makes it a good fight though he seems like a likable and respectful enough guy and the more players in a division the merrier.

I think he'll be competitive enough and win some rounds. Perhaps a 116-112 type loss.

[The Problem Child]

I hope he shoots up steroids and loads his gloves against Joshua. I honestly dont give a ****, Joshua is a coward.

[redmish]

Have I been duped by Parker/Barry/Higgins? Is he really at the elite level? I suppose in some respects we're always being duped by professional boxing, but what I mean is this:
- Parker is supposedly the more "skillful" - yet he didn't even qualify for the Olympics, whereas Joshua won gold, having out-competed his fellow countrymen in very tough competition to even qualify, yet alone win the gold against the world's best
- Are Parker's best wins - Takam, Ruiz and Hughie Fury - really all that great? Takam is the only real proven one out of all of them, and he was beaten up by Joshua, even if it was a dodgy stoppage. Ruiz Jr to me looks like a very, very skilful guy, but he hasn't fought since then...and to be honest it's 50/50 whether he beat Parker. Hughie Fury looks like he doesn't have the power to compete in heavyweight boxing.
- Why is Joshua's stamina in question when Parker arguably gased out in the middle rounds against Takam far worse than Joshua did?
- Parker's team have talked about how they were the ones that called out Joshua and wanted the fight - but it's easy to want the fight when you're fighting the cash cow of the division for a multi-million dollar payday.
- It's even easier to call out Joshua when Alexander Povetkin is about to become your mandatory. I'd much rather fight Joshua for millions than fight a dodgy cheat who has enough financial backing that he can consistently get away popping positive for PEDs.

"Supposedly the more skillful"? I've never heard anyone say that and it's complete nonsense. I think Parker will have a good go at AJ but will ultimately get stopped around 5-6 rounds.

[Sparked_26]

I think he goes 12 and if AJ gasses he has a chance for the late stoppage.

I see 118-110 or 117-111 sort of scores for AJ. I doubt AJ can stop him actually.

Parker seems nice and relaxed so I can't see him being a rabbit in the headlights.

He has a chance

[Amandlala]

He's not massively technically skilled. He seems like a typical heavyweight contender of the Klitschko period.

He has no KO power at all.

But hes got a solid chin.

Not a big deal at all.

Best chance he has is going the distance and winning on points. But AJ has the sharper technical ability of the two and a power advantage.

[stellen]

I thought in his early career that he was looking to be something special. But honestly, in his last 4 fights he has been absolute dogshyt. The worst of it being the radzvan cohanu debacle. Joshua wont even have to be at his best to beat parker tomorrow.

[LA_2_Vegas]

He's solid but I thought he'd be better. Seems to have plateaued recently. I hope he makes it a good fight though he seems like a likable and respectful enough guy and the more players in a division the merrier.

I think he'll be competitive enough and win some rounds. Perhaps a 116-112 type loss.

Definitely this. I still think it's a good matchup though, one of the better matchups for the division.

To me he had become increasingly slappy in his last couple fights, not generating a ton of power or leverage....I wasn't even aware he had lingering shoulder/elbow injuries until last week... when I hearf that I started to wonder if that might explain some of this plateau

[Redd Foxx]

The guy who struggled with Hughie Fury isn't beating AJ. I like Parker but his style falls apart against even half decent opposition. AJ's chin is dodgy and his stamina bad but Parker isn't a power puncher and his cardio isn't amazing or anything. Seeing AJ virtually cast a shadow over him at the weigh-ins cinched it for me. Joshua by late ko.