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Anthony Joshua claims he is now a 'different animal' as he works out ahead of unification clash with Joseph Parker and vows: 'There will be blood'
Anthony Joshua has warned Joseph Parker he is a 'different animal' to the fighter who stopped Carlos Takam last time out.
The IBF and WBA champion enjoyed a media workout at his Sheffield base ahead of his fight against New Zealand's WBO king at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31.
Joshua bludgeoned Takam in a brutal bout last October. And AJ has promised fight fans 'there will be blood' again when he fights Parker, who the British boxer described as a 'phenomenal champion' in his own right.
'Every fight and training camp has been something to learn from,' he told Sky Sports.
'Who I was for my last training camp, I just feel like I'm a different animal, more fine-tuned. I don't just work hard anymore, I work smart, I'm becoming a real student of the game.
AJ is the heavy favourite to triumph at the Principality Stadium and continue on the road to a huge fight with Deontay Wilder for the title of undisputed champion.
But Joshua insists he is not overlooking Parker, a world champion unbeaten in 24 professional fights and who Eddie Hearn has described as his 'toughest fight' to date.
'Parker is a phenomenal champion - tough, he has his (Samoan) heritage and he wants to prove he's a worthy champion,' Joshua said.
'Anyone I fight, they always come 30 per cent better than what I've seen so I can't expect the same old Parker in the ring on March 31. I've seen there's been a lot of talk about the future but my future ends on March 31.
'That's where my goal is and that's where I'm focused on.... I can't take my eye of this guy. He's talented and he wants to prove himself.'
Joshua refused to give a prediction on how the fight will turnout in Cardiff – but the IBF and WBA king does believe the match-up has all the ingredients to emulate Evander Holyfied's legendary battle with Riddick Bowe.
'I can't tell you exactly how the fight is going to go but we're big, strong and the punches do hurt after a while. I definitely know there will be blood and you can definitely hear the leather cracking on the people's heads if you're close enough,' he said.
'Hopefully, I'm not saying it will, but let's say Parker is (Evander) Holyfiend and I'm (Riddick) Bowe, the taller, rangier fighter. When they fought, they had speed, combinations on the inside so hopefully we can fulfil what the greats did before us.'
Despite his respect for Parker as opponent, Joshua had earlier stoked the fire by claiming he didn't really like his opponent.
'He's a weird character, not really no,' he told talkSPORT.
'Do you know what it is with Parker and his team? Behind the scenes they are different, a lot of the things they say are different.
'I have seen some of the emails that Parker's manager has sent to Eddie and so on. They say some really backstabbing things and in your face they shake your hand and that's not my kind, that's not my type at all.'
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/box...rker-bout.html
Anthony Joshua has warned Joseph Parker he is a 'different animal' to the fighter who stopped Carlos Takam last time out.
The IBF and WBA champion enjoyed a media workout at his Sheffield base ahead of his fight against New Zealand's WBO king at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31.
Joshua bludgeoned Takam in a brutal bout last October. And AJ has promised fight fans 'there will be blood' again when he fights Parker, who the British boxer described as a 'phenomenal champion' in his own right.
'Every fight and training camp has been something to learn from,' he told Sky Sports.
'Who I was for my last training camp, I just feel like I'm a different animal, more fine-tuned. I don't just work hard anymore, I work smart, I'm becoming a real student of the game.
AJ is the heavy favourite to triumph at the Principality Stadium and continue on the road to a huge fight with Deontay Wilder for the title of undisputed champion.
But Joshua insists he is not overlooking Parker, a world champion unbeaten in 24 professional fights and who Eddie Hearn has described as his 'toughest fight' to date.
'Parker is a phenomenal champion - tough, he has his (Samoan) heritage and he wants to prove he's a worthy champion,' Joshua said.
'Anyone I fight, they always come 30 per cent better than what I've seen so I can't expect the same old Parker in the ring on March 31. I've seen there's been a lot of talk about the future but my future ends on March 31.
'That's where my goal is and that's where I'm focused on.... I can't take my eye of this guy. He's talented and he wants to prove himself.'
Joshua refused to give a prediction on how the fight will turnout in Cardiff – but the IBF and WBA king does believe the match-up has all the ingredients to emulate Evander Holyfied's legendary battle with Riddick Bowe.
'I can't tell you exactly how the fight is going to go but we're big, strong and the punches do hurt after a while. I definitely know there will be blood and you can definitely hear the leather cracking on the people's heads if you're close enough,' he said.
'Hopefully, I'm not saying it will, but let's say Parker is (Evander) Holyfiend and I'm (Riddick) Bowe, the taller, rangier fighter. When they fought, they had speed, combinations on the inside so hopefully we can fulfil what the greats did before us.'
Despite his respect for Parker as opponent, Joshua had earlier stoked the fire by claiming he didn't really like his opponent.
'He's a weird character, not really no,' he told talkSPORT.
'Do you know what it is with Parker and his team? Behind the scenes they are different, a lot of the things they say are different.
'I have seen some of the emails that Parker's manager has sent to Eddie and so on. They say some really backstabbing things and in your face they shake your hand and that's not my kind, that's not my type at all.'
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/box...rker-bout.html
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