Anthony Joshua believes Joseph Parker will face an “overwhelming” experience in a unification bout which will go down in “history” on Saturday.
WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion Joshua meets WBO title-holder Parker at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
It will be Briton Joshua’s fourth stadium bout but, with 80,000 fans expected, represents a new level of interest for New Zealand’s Parker.
“It took me a few times to get used to it,” Joshua told BBC Radio 5 live.
“It’s an experience he hasn’t faced yet. It is daunting, it is overwhelming.
“You have a fighter that will block out the noise, which takes a whole heap of energy. Then you have a fighter who rides the wave, which can leave you too excited.
“The fight is won or lost in training camp but the last bolt is screwed on during the spell from your changing room to the first bell.”
Lennox Lewis became undisputed champion by defeating Evander Holyfield on November 13, 1999
Joshua told BBC Sport he had been watching videos of Lennox Lewis, who held the IBF, WBA and WBC titles in 2000.
Since then, only Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko have held three heavyweight titles at one time.
And as well as three of the four heavyweight titles, Joshua and Parker will put undefeated records on the line in the Welsh capital.
“This is history,” Joshua told BBC Radio 5 live’s boxing podcast.
“This is a unification fight with two heavyweights undefeated and it’s in the UK.
“It’s going to be electric. You know when you come here to fight myself, you know there’s going to be blood, a fighter hurt and 20 times out of 20 I’ve been victorious, so expect the same routine.”
Joshua has made subtle tweaks to his training since defeating Carlos Takamin October.
He now focuses on boxing during morning sessions, with running or strength work later in the day. The reverse of his old routine aims to see him fresher when doing technical work under the guidance of trainer Rob McCracken at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
_________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2018 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
